Can new political forces ensure clean politics? (Commentary)

Narayan Prasad Ghimire / Recently, an intellectual leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani quit the party showing resentment with the leadership. He accused party Chairman Kamal Thapa of taking decision arbitrarily and exhibiting self-centered attitude. Leader Lohani also announced that he would be in a new political party. However, he did not disclose more about whether he is joining any political party or forming the new one in his own leadership.

Some weeks earlier, a roaring announcement of new political force- the Sajha party- took everyone by surprise. Surprise was normal for it was not announced by any political leader but by a journalist. Spending long time in an international media, Rabindra Mishra changed the course and is learnt that is be expanding the organization.

These two are the latest emergence while it has been almost a year the former prime minister and eminent Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai quit the leadership of Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and announced the Naya Shakti (New Force) Party Nepal.

At a time when the national politics is yet to rid of the transition with differing political stands on resolving the problems on state restructuring and federal set up, the appearance of new political forces obviously carry meaning in the national affairs.

The cycle of formation, split and unification of political parties is natural everywhere. Nepal’s political history is not exceptional- emergence and split are so usual especially of the communist forces.

When asked about the reasons behind emergence of the new leader/party, Professor Krishna Khanal said, “It is natural that new parties/leaders are emerged seeking the alternative forces and showing dissatisfaction with the establishments. It is common trend across the globe.”

He, however, terms the departure of Dr Bhattarai an innovative way of quitting party in Nepali politics, reasoning he did not split the Maoist party led by Prachanda. According to Professor Khanal, although both Dr Bhattarai and journalist Mishra have underscored change in the national affairs, Mr Mishra has not come comprehensively on different dimensions on his future activities.

Now, pondering over country’s political leaders and their activities for some time, it is pertinent for everyone to wonder: Is it the need of hour to have more political parties for the betterment of national politics and the meaningful change in Nepalis’ lives? Nepal has already numerous political parties- mushroomed especially after the 2063’s people’s movement which resulted in the departure of some significant leaders from the southern plains from the mother parties as Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML.

Are the political parties up to the mark in Nepal? What’s the politics for after all? Are the people kept in centre by our politicos? These are very pressing questions that need rigorous study. However, the reports for years have pointed out that Nepali politics is tainted and the leaders unclean. Here is the dearth of political culture resulting in politics of negation. The activities in the politics have proved that the hustle and bustle of corrupt leaders is aimed at fomenting murky and fluid politics that finally keeps the people at the receiving end. Interestingly, they still do not stop chanting that they were working for the rights of the people. Nepotism and favouritism are so ingrained in Nepali politics that it has badly eroded democratic values and may take time to root out in order to give relief to people and victims cadres within the political parties.

Amid such background came the appearances of these forces. Future will show how effectively and efficiently they would negotiate the situation.

To connect here, Naya Shakti Party Nepal coordinator Dr Baburam Bhattarai reiterated during the recent counterterrorism conference in India, “The idea of Naya Shakti not only as an alternative political party but also as a movement for deepening democracy is a natural corollary to transition from bullet to ballet”.

As Mr Bhattarai was saying this, the fellows he brought together during the announcement of his party as Mumaram Khanal and Rameshwor Khanal had already left him.

Good governance is the need of hour. Only clean politics can help boost the good governance practices. The new appearance Dr Bhattarai and Mr Mishra have made should not forget that they came to the fore not merely to excoriate the establishments that is tainted and full of foul practices, but also to launch the innovative activities that lure the larger audience. Their departures have proved again that ideological adherence is not necessary to be a political force at present, but if they fail to build robust organization, expand numbers of cadres and formulate and execute policies and plans accordingly, the achievement of change and good governance they have advocated is an uphill task. RSS