Presidential Ambition : The Long March Ahead

Ritu Raj Subedi

Maoist chairman Prachanda has sent ripples in Nepalese politics by revealing his ambition to be president of a republic Nepal in two years. The Maoist supremo is confident about the success of his party and his political career when there is overwhelming anxiety among the political heavyweights regarding the future course of Nepal. Prachanda's surety of his future inning into the highest post of the nation sharply contrasts with the existing uncertainty besetting the country in transition.

Ambition

It is not uncommon for any individual to nurture his or her ambition in life. There are different ways of harbouring ambitions. Some hide their ambition and demonstrate it through action while others reveals their inner desire to the public and pursue it accordingly. It is a bit unusual for public figures to declare their ambition. However, in Prachanda's case, one can extract more than a literal meaning from his cocksure statement. By disclosing his intention, he is giving a signal to rival political parties that the Maoists are moving ahead by calculating the algebra of Nepali politics and will surely reach its intended destination. There is no dearth of people who view Prachanda's claim as a saucy remark made only to arouse the enthusiasm of his cadres. Going by the Maoist offensive postures and agenda they have been pursuing ever since they joined competitive politics, there is nothing to be surprised by his stunning revelation.

Can comrade Prachanda be president after two years? In politics, nothing is impossible. Still this hypothetical question further invites a plethora of questions that should be examined in depth. There are quite a few obstacles before he can put himself in the presidential seat. There has first to be a provision in the would-be constitution to be framed by members of the constituent assembly.The first and foremost challenge is the king himself, who must be removed from the scene. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is also currently working as the head of state, but the presidential system will be in place only after the CA polls abolish the kingship with a simple majority. But will the assembly polls take place within the given timeframe? Political leaders and thinkers are not so sure about the fate of the historic polls given the precarious security situation that is getting shakier with a bunch of disgruntled and armed groups continuing with their protests, unlawful activities, killings and abduction of innocent people.Let us presume the CA polls are a grand success with a massive turn out. But the Nepali Congress that is still undecided on the monarchy will not easily swing to the republican camp dominated by the communist forces. Octogenarian Koirala is oscillating between a monarchy and a republic. His temptation to keep the baby king amply suggests that he is not ready to throw the hangover of a ceremonial monarch.

There is a historical background behind Koirala's temptation towards this debilitating institution. When Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi played foul against B. P. Koirala, he broke his long exile in India and returned to Nepal with a reconciliatory approach to establish special rapport with the monarchial institution. Though the palace turned down Koirala's offer and put him behind bars, senior Koirala went on to say: 'My and the king's necks are attached.' Senior Koirala's faith in the ceremonial king has had a deep impact on those groomed under the tutelage of the Koirala family. To clear the deck, the NC leadership must accept republicanism that has already taken its youth wing into its fold. A section of the NC still holds the view that the monarchy is a shield against the rising tide of communists. To destroy the kingship means to restore a Red regime in the country. Pro-palace elements have emphatically raised this logic to pit the NC against the Maoists. And Prachanda has had to allay this fear. Prachanda is not a unanimous figure for Nepalese Leftists parties that are divided into several groups. He has to mend ties with the largest communist block - the CPN-UML - that has been always at odds with the radical outfit. Without riding on the back of the UML, the Maoist chairman cannot fulfil his dream of becoming the president of Nepal. For this, he must stop bullying other Left parties and forge a broader alliance among the communist forces.

Prachandaa must understand that some great communist leaders were unable to fulfil their ambitions in life. When Chairman Mao was sure that he would emerge victorious in the civil war against Chiang Kai-Sheik, he tried to propagate 'Maoism' through American journalist Edgar Snow, but the Soviet leaders never accepted his ideology, which he claimed was a further development of Marxism and Leninism. Snow's famous book 'Red Star on China' that glorifies Mao was banned in Russia. Then he hired a second rate American journalist, Anna Louis Strong, to take his ideas to the global stage. On a visit to Moscow as Mao's emissary, the KGB took her as a CIA agent, and she was nabbed and jailed. She was tortured to death in a KGB cell. Chairman Mao, the political godfather of Chairman Prachanda, never realised his super power programme that aimed at footing his country at par with the US and former Soviet Union. In his last days, Mao was forced to accept a 'climb-down' before Deng Xiaoping and Zhou Enlai whom he denounced as 'capitalist-roaders.'Nepal is economically a dependent state, and without the consent of some major foreign players, no political party can reach the helm of power. One of the formidable challenges that the Maoists face is convincing key donors and those countries that are a part of the political game of the country. The strong Nepali Army will not easily allow the Reds to storm into the hot seat of the nation. Prachanda has to take many power centres into confidence to fulfil his dream.

Statesmanship

He should prove his mettle by healing the wounds of the insurgency that created so many foes. He may be a future hope for a large section of people. But he should demonstrate the qualities of statesmanship and rise above the podium of a politician. He must stop making flippant remarks that undermine his stature. He should be cautious about over exposing himself to the media should the people's appetite be saturated.

Source: The Rising Nepal, June 30, 2007