AUG 12 -
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai was the last remaining hope of a disappointed people until one year ago. His academic qualifications, intellectual height, visions and understanding of political economy, spotless track record as a successful Finance Minister, humble lifestyle and the political line of peace and constitution he pursued in his rebellious party had made him a darling of both the masses and the educated groups. Gauging their mood and aspirations, he promised everything from good governance to value-based politics, to rapid economic development, peace-building and constitution writing, when he took office.
One year down the line, the hopefuls are feeling betrayed. They have discovered that instead of taking tough and unpopular decisions that are essential to solve the burning problems of the crisis-ridden nation, every time he resorts to a new show-piece gimmick. He is better known for symbols than substances and publicity than performance. For examples: the use of a substandard “made-in-Nepal” jeep instead of the usual Prime Minister’s car, giving directives about hygienic care after personally inspecting some eateries alongside the busy Prithvi highway, staying one night in a village every month and so on. Of the 23 time-bound programmes of good governance the PM declared soon after he took office, 19 never started while 4 are being poorly implemented. Similarly, equally poor implementation of a dozen or so existing big infrastructure projects, which the PM renamed as “projects of national pride” haven’t progressed either.
Many feel that the PM mostly undermines domestic political players, both within his party and outside, and chooses to rely on Indian support for his survival. For the powerful Southern neighbour, the most influential actor in the realpolitik of this country, Bhattarai is the number one choice among Maoist ranks, a party whose schooling has been basically anti-Indian. For Bhattarai, his Indian connection has proved both rewarding and challenging. The shrewd Party Chairman, Prachanda, despite his current India-friendly words and deeds, is as unpredictable as ever. To Bhattarai’s embarrassment, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has started a new “nationalist” campaign, possibly, for political gains and bargains. On the other hand, his pro-India coalition partners, the Madhesi leaders, have been more of a liability than an asset for him because of their corrupt, opportunistic and divisive politics.
Paradoxically, in the beginning, both Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML largely supported him; they calculated that since Bhattarai was the most liberal and straightforward among the Maoist leaders, he will cooperate with the opposition forces. But Bhattarai didn’t. He didn’t, or couldn’t, stop his own party split either. Bhattarai chose to ignore both, which resulted in his political isolation. Most of the problems Bhattarai faces today are thus the outcome of his own mistakes and miscalculations.
In a surprise but well-calculated move, the PM announced elections for a new Constituent Assembly, which he knew was impossible without amending the constitution and/or without political consensus. If he was unable to do the former, he was unwilling to do the latter. When the Election Commission was publicly saying that elections cannot be held on the date fixed by the PM, he declared that he will quit only after the elections are held. Now, when many are demanding his resignation, he proudly declares that he won’t quit unless a prime ministerial candidate is produced as his successor.
Recently, the PM publicly confessed that foreign powers hold the key to everything in this country. Though the real reasons and meaning of such an admission, after being in office for nearly one year, are not clear, the PM still doesn’t feel the need to stand united in the face of such foreign dominion, despite his divulgence.
His own words, “corruption didn’t increase during my time, even if it didn’t decrease either”, speak volumes. Supplies of essential commodities/services, including petroleum products, electricity and fertilisers, are further constrained. Except remittance and the subsequent Balance of Payment position, all economic indicators have been disappointing; inflation has reached unprecedented heights while unemployment has aggravated. State of lawlessness and crime didn’t improve, while the culture of impunity has almost been institutionalised. Road accidents that kill droves of people have shot up both in frequency and numbers; yet the government has hardly taken any preventive and punitive measures. Social harmony between different ethnic communities has never been so strained before. But, the PM and his government has barely shown any sensitivity or seriousness in this regard. His failures are too many while his successes—such as the road expa nsion drive in Kathmandu—have been few and far between.
Despite plethora of public relation tactics he so frequently applies, Bhattarai’s popularity not only waned; it nosedived, especially during the latter months of his premiership. The blame goes not only to his poor performance, but also to his persona. During public functions and talk shows he appears with a poker face. During live interviews, instead of diverting tough questions with wit or a smile, he reacts curtly or angrily.
Having seen and experienced Prachanda’s duplicity, Machiavellian methods, vote-bank politics, and series of political misadventures, financial opaqueness and un-proletariat lifestyle, people held great expectations from Bhattarai—another “hero” of the Maoist insurgency, despite his weak following in the party. His meager performance, unimpressive verbal and body language and hunger for power have completely shattered his previous image.
jeevan1952@hotmail.com
Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/oped/pinnacles-and-debacles/358629/
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