The Covid-19 crisis could have led the Nepal Communist Party to remain united, given the pressures that the ruling party would be under while dealing with the pandemic. But the crisis has only exposed the fault lines more clearly, leaving the two chairs—and the factions they lead—even further apart.
While party chair and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is struggling to assuage concerns from the public as well as party members over his poor handling of the coronavirus crisis, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the other chair, has sowed seeds of suspicion by proposing the formation of an all-party mechanism.
It is no secret that Oli and Dahal have not been on the best of terms in recent months. The growing rivalry was perhaps most explicit during the selection of the candidate for the Speaker’s post. That conflict between the two chairs never really went away, say party insiders.
“Oli’s behaviour leaves Dahal feeling like he is being sidelined, and this is not doing any good to the party,” said a party Secretariat member.
Dahal’s proposal to form an all-party mechanism by including the opposition “to assist the government in the fight against Covid-19” has been seen by the Oli faction as a ploy against the government, said the party leader.
The proposal came days after a heated argument between Oli and Dahal at last week’s Secretariat meeting. At the meeting, which was held hours after Oli addressed the nation, Oli was roundly questioned by Secretariat members regarding corruption allegations in the procurement of medical equipment from China. Leaders say Oli took those questions personally, as a bid to corner him, and accused the Dahal faction of not supporting him in a time of crisis.
According to party General Secretary Bishnu Poudel, no discussion has been held in the party regarding an all-party mechanism.
“If the proposal had come after proper consultations, there would not have been any misunderstanding,” Poudel told the Post. “The sudden proposal led to confusion.”
It was apparent on Saturday that the all-party mechanism had not gone down well with Oli. During a video conference with chief ministers from all seven provinces, Oli outright rejected the idea.
Of the nine members in the Secretariat, leaders like Bamdev Gautam, Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Jhalanath Khanal have supported Dahal’s proposal, in line with the Bhaisepati alliance–an arrangement that Dahal had managed to create by winning over these former UML leaders to corner Oli.
The ruling Nepal Communist Party currently has three factions that are precariously aligned. The third camp led by senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal currently holds the key, say insiders.
Nepal, who after being driven into a corner by Oli, had decided to ally with Dahal but seems to have now mended fences with Oli.
“And that has given Oli the leverage to counter Dahal,” said a central committee member who did not want to be identified. “His involvement in the Baluwatar land grab has become a headache for Madhav Nepal at this point in time. Oli has been employing that to keep Nepal on his side.”
But those from the Nepal camp call the Oli-Nepal alliance a natural one.
“Oli and Nepal should join hands to run the party and the government while taking the Maoists along and giving them the respect they deserve,” said Raghuji Pant, a standing committee member.
After extracting the Speaker’s post for the man of his choice, Dahal had by and large bounced back, increasing his hold on the party. But Oli went into a kidney transplant, which meant confinement and fewer internal exercises. Then, the Covid-19 crisis hit, and insiders say Oli managed to assert his leadership as there was a lull during the lockdown.
But again, two of Oli’s ministers ran into controversy over the procurement of medical equipment, giving Dahal an opening.
The Dahal camp has tried to take advantage of the situation to attack Oli, which was evident in the latest Secretariat meeting, as action was demanded against those involved in corruption, said one party leader.
A central committee member who has close relations with Nepal claimed that the differences between the Oli and Dahal factions are also reflected in their loyalists’ allegations against each other.
“The government has largely failed, but those leaders who are close to the government are refusing to admit it,” said Maheswor Dahal, a central committee member. “To cover up their weaknesses, they are making unnecessary allegations and calling the all-party mechanism proposal a ploy against the government.”
According to Dahal, the all-party mechanism is solely aimed at assisting the government in a time of crisis.
But there are others who say that the differences between the leaders stems from their working styles.
“All top leaders have a history of exercising power,” said Bishnu Rijal, a standing committee member. “Dahal has a dynamic personality; he wants to remain active but he is currently sitting idle. Hence, he is looking for some role to play in this difficult time.”
Rijal ruled out any serious differences between the two leaders.
“Their nature and working styles are different. That’s it,” he said. “There’s not much to read into it.”
Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus outbreak
UPDATED as of September 22, 2020
What is Covid-19? Covid-19, short for coronavirus disease, is an illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, short for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Common symptoms of the disease include fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
How contagious is Covid-19? Covid-19 can spread easily from person to person, especially in enclosed spaces. The virus can travel through the air in respiratory droplets produced when a sick person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. As the virus can also survive on plastic and steel surfaces for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours, any contact with such surfaces can also spread the virus. Symptoms take between two to 14 days to appear, during which time the carrier is believed to be contagious.
Where did the virus come from? The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China in late December. The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that is responsible for everything from the common cold to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). After an initial outbreak in Wuhan that spread across Hubei province, eventually infecting over 80,000 and killing more than 3,000, new infection rates in mainland China have dropped. However, the disease has since spread across the world at an alarming rate.
What is the current status of Covid-19?
The World Health Organisation has called the ongoing outbreak a “pandemic” and urged countries across the world to take precautionary measures. Covid-19 has spread to 213 countries and territoriesaround the world and infected more than 31,405,983 people with 967,505 deaths and 22,990,260 recoveries. In South Asia, India has reported the highest number of infections at 5,557,573 with 88,943 deaths. While Pakistan has reported 306,304 confirmed cases with 6,420 deaths. Nepal has so far reported 65,276 cases with 427 deaths.
How dangerous is the disease?
The mortality rate for Covid-19 is estimated to be 3.6 percent, but new studies have put the rate slightly higher at 5.7 percent. Although Covid-19 is not too dangerous to young healthy people, older individuals and those with immune-compromised systems are at greater risk of death. People with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, or those who’ve recently undergone serious medical procedures, are also at risk.
How do I keep myself safe? The WHO advises that the most important thing you can do is wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol content. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands. Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces like your computers and phones. Avoid large crowds of people. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist for longer than a few days.
Is it time to panic?
No. The government has imposed a lockdown to limit the spread of the virus. There is no need to begin stockpiling food, cooking gas or hand sanitizers. However, it is always prudent to take sensible precautions like the ones identified above.
Tika R Pradhan is a senior political correspondent for the Post, covering politics, parliament, judiciary and social affairs. Pradhan joined the Post in 2016 after working at The Himalayan Times for more than a decade.
Anil Giri is a reporter covering diplomacy, international relations and national politics for The Kathmandu Post. Giri has been working as a journalist for a decade-and-a-half, contributing to numerous national and international media outlets.
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