HELLO NEPAL

The Kathmandu Post 26 February 2016 NO MORE SUFFERINGS It was a bit surprising to see the sudden end of Indian blockade last month that was continuing on the Nepal- India border points for the last five months. However, there were no official announcements of lifting the blockade from both the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) and the Indian government. Nevertheless, there was a speculation among the people that sooner or later the SLMM would have to withdraw their protest at the border points considering the gradual dwindling of their cadres at the protest sites. The dramatic opening of the Birgunj-Raxual border points had weakened the position of SLMM forcing them to concede that the general people had suffered more than the Oli led government. However, at the new report it does not seem that they will remain passive in the days to come (“Protest on cards, but doors for dialogue open: Morcha” 24 February, Page 3). They have denied being inclu...

Deuba Vs Paudel It is not surprising to read the news (“Deuba eyes NC leadership as establishment side fragments” THT, 16 February, Page 3) at a time when the NC’s national general convention (NGC) is going to be held in the first week of March 2016. After the sudden and sad demise of Sushil Koirala , NC is left without its chief and struggling to keep the leadership with the establishment which do not seem possible at this time considering its ongoing factional politics. Ram Chandra Paudel has been made as the acting President who proclaims himself as the legitimate candidate for the leadership. However, Prakash Man Singh and Krishna P. Situala are also vying for the post. This situation has made the establishment camp difficult to pick up a single candidate. It seems now that the Koirala dynastic politics has come to end after Sushil Koirala’s sudden death. There does not seem any body from Koirala family to claim for the party chief position. And, it does not be ...

The Kathmandu Post 21 February 2016 FUTURE NEPALI CONGRESS Given the sudden and sad demise of Sushil Koirala, it will be interesting to see the outcome of the 13 th General Convention (CG) of the Nepali Congress (NC) that is going to be held in Kathmandu from 3-6 March. Being the oldest and one of the largest party, it cannot shy away from implementing the new constitution, which should be one of its prime agendas (“Statute, Madhes to top agenda” 17 February, Page 3). Also, the people are expecting to see its clear policy on the Madhesi issue so that the political unrest in the Tarai can be successfully resolved. However, the young leaders have started complaining that the senior leaders do not seem serious about deliberations on the issue due to leadership tussle between the rival factions. Observing closely the ongoing political activities of NC, it does not seem that there will be any major deviation in its policies and programmes. However, its Madhesi lead...