Press, Parties And Political Pandemonium
Yuba Nath Lamsal
If the vernacular press is any yardstick for political judgment, the present coalition government headed by Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala would have collapsed long ago. But wishes are not always horses that do not fly in the speed one may wish. Time has its own pace and limitation that moves on according to the law of nature.
Speculations in the local press have not always come out as truth,
which only serve as a tool to sensationalize the event. Here lies the
fault line between the objectivity and speculative journalism.
The prediction that the present government would soon land in crisis,
too, is the product of such speculative journalism. Such scenario and
possibility does not at all exist at the moment. There are, of course,
differences between the two key partners of the present coalition
government but these differences are manageable and will be managed.
The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML are two different political
parties with different ideologies, different
political orientation and they represent different class bases. Their
perceptions are different and these two parties may analyze and view
the same thing differently. This is natural as human nature itself is
pluralistic that tends to be different and unique from the rest of the
mankind. In the pluralistic society one is
definitely not expected to think and perceive things in a way that
normally happens in a monolithic society and system. This may be
applicable to political parties as well.
We have multi party political system and pluralistic society. In
Nepal’s context and also in the world, political parties are the
combination and confluence of different interest groups and views.
When divergent groups exist, operate and compete for existence and
survival in the parties and society, different opinions and views are
bound to come up
within the party. In every political party of Nepal, there are parties
within a party, committees within a committee and factions within a
faction. Factionalism and factional rivalry are common in all
political parties and it is intensifying in our faction-ridden
politics. Parties are fragmented and due mainly to contradictions
between ideology and actions, inconsistency and vacillation in policy
and deep penetration of external interest groups and powers and this
process intensifies.
Press is partly responsible in instigating fragmentation in parties
and politics through over sensationalizing and unnecessary blowing
even a minor issue out of proportion. Press disseminates and
sensationalizes views of a particular leader and group as the
authentic voice of the party, which is not always true and factual.
Press itself is partisan and guided by profit motive. By doing this,
press itself becomes partisan and it sides with certain interest
group, political party and a group within a party in the expense of
the interest of a larger segment of society. In the race for profit
making business, press often looks for ‘masala’ to sensationalize the
issue and grab public attention forgetting its responsibility to the
society and compromising its fundamental ideals. The press, in the
name investigating and analyzing issues, pits one party against the
other and one group against the other even within parties. Press too
is responsible, one way or other, for the mess we have seen at
present.
Parties are disintegrating, factionalism is growing and factional
fighting is getting more severe every day. While all parties are
suffering from factional rivalry, inter-party relationship among
different political parties is also not at ease. If we look at the
stance and position on key issues and agenda at present, parties are
far apart. Even the coalition partners of government are not unanimous
on major issues.
Despite similar views, perception and standing on many constitution
related issues, the Congress and the UML, too, have serious
differences. Early symptoms of fissures and friction between these two
key coalition partners have already surfaced. If the disputes and
differences between these two parties were not managed in time, it
will ultimately land the government on crises, which will serious
impact on the constitution writing process, too.
The recent row between the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress
is mainly on issue concerning parliamentary endorsement for
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Vice President Pramananda Jha This
issue is also being blown out of proportion by media. The Interim
Constitution has clearly stated the tenure of the President and Vice
President without any ambiguity. So there should be no dispute in it.
CPN-UML Chairman of the KP Sharma Oli, too, knows it well. But he is
raising this issue because of the internal problem of his own party.
After being elected as new Chairman of the CPN-UML, Oli has a huge
challenge to manage party's senior leaders like Jhalanath Khanal and
Madhav Kumar Nepal, on the one hand and unify the psychologically
divided cadres. This could have been Oli's strategic move to divert
attention and instill optimism and energy in the party cadres.
UML leader's only demand and concerns are the implementation of the
seven point deal reached between the Congress and CPN-UML prior to the
formation of the government. The deal consists, among others,
parliamentary endorsement of the President and Vice President. This is
politically correct on the part of the CPN-UML but it cannot be
challenged in the court of law. As far as the position of the Nepali
Congress is concerned, it wants the Interim Constitution to be
followed in letters and spirit. But it remains to be answered, why the
Nepali Congress, in the first place signed the deal against the spirit
and provisions of the Interim Constitution. Nepali Congress leaders
are well educated and well verse in constitutional and legal issues.
Even if they were confused, they could have consulted lawyers and
constitutional experts as Nepali Congress has no dearth of such legal
luminaries. This was a grave mistake on the part of the Nepali
Congress, the price of which it is now paying whereas the CPN-UML is
reaping its political benefit.
CPN-UML leaders have even started questioning the fate of the
present coalition government if the Nepali Congress was not prepared
to implement the deal in its letter and spirit. Despite the arguments
for public consumption, the CPN-UML is not likely to risk by pulling
down the present government on this issue. Even if the CPN-UML walks
out of government and withdraw support to the government, the Nepali
Congress still has options for alternative government. However, if the
CPN-UML walks out of the government, it has no option other than
sitting in the opposition bench. UML knows it well and would not make
a mistake to go the extent that may lead to the downfall of the
government. However, KP Oli, like Girija Prasad Koirala, has the image
as a man of stance and he normally and easily does not compromise his
stance and position he once takes. Thus, he may not easily give up
and compromise on this issue as well. Thus, the issue of parliamentary
endorsement for president and Vice President, too, is not likely to
fizzle out easily.
Thus, this issue is getting complicated, which needs to be resolved at
the earliest and in an amicable way. This issue has arisen as the
first Constituent Assembly failed to deliver the new constitution.
Once the constitution was promulgated, it will solve all problems and
issues. Thus, the political parties, instead of getting bogged down in
these polemics, are required to accomplish the constitution writing
process and give the country a new constitution that will once and for
all settle all disputes and issues.
If the vernacular press is any yardstick for political judgment, the present coalition government headed by Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala would have collapsed long ago. But wishes are not always horses that do not fly in the speed one may wish. Time has its own pace and limitation that moves on according to the law of nature.
Speculations in the local press have not always come out as truth,
which only serve as a tool to sensationalize the event. Here lies the
fault line between the objectivity and speculative journalism.
The prediction that the present government would soon land in crisis,
too, is the product of such speculative journalism. Such scenario and
possibility does not at all exist at the moment. There are, of course,
differences between the two key partners of the present coalition
government but these differences are manageable and will be managed.
The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML are two different political
parties with different ideologies, different
political orientation and they represent different class bases. Their
perceptions are different and these two parties may analyze and view
the same thing differently. This is natural as human nature itself is
pluralistic that tends to be different and unique from the rest of the
mankind. In the pluralistic society one is
definitely not expected to think and perceive things in a way that
normally happens in a monolithic society and system. This may be
applicable to political parties as well.
We have multi party political system and pluralistic society. In
Nepal’s context and also in the world, political parties are the
combination and confluence of different interest groups and views.
When divergent groups exist, operate and compete for existence and
survival in the parties and society, different opinions and views are
bound to come up
within the party. In every political party of Nepal, there are parties
within a party, committees within a committee and factions within a
faction. Factionalism and factional rivalry are common in all
political parties and it is intensifying in our faction-ridden
politics. Parties are fragmented and due mainly to contradictions
between ideology and actions, inconsistency and vacillation in policy
and deep penetration of external interest groups and powers and this
process intensifies.
Press is partly responsible in instigating fragmentation in parties
and politics through over sensationalizing and unnecessary blowing
even a minor issue out of proportion. Press disseminates and
sensationalizes views of a particular leader and group as the
authentic voice of the party, which is not always true and factual.
Press itself is partisan and guided by profit motive. By doing this,
press itself becomes partisan and it sides with certain interest
group, political party and a group within a party in the expense of
the interest of a larger segment of society. In the race for profit
making business, press often looks for ‘masala’ to sensationalize the
issue and grab public attention forgetting its responsibility to the
society and compromising its fundamental ideals. The press, in the
name investigating and analyzing issues, pits one party against the
other and one group against the other even within parties. Press too
is responsible, one way or other, for the mess we have seen at
present.
Parties are disintegrating, factionalism is growing and factional
fighting is getting more severe every day. While all parties are
suffering from factional rivalry, inter-party relationship among
different political parties is also not at ease. If we look at the
stance and position on key issues and agenda at present, parties are
far apart. Even the coalition partners of government are not unanimous
on major issues.
Despite similar views, perception and standing on many constitution
related issues, the Congress and the UML, too, have serious
differences. Early symptoms of fissures and friction between these two
key coalition partners have already surfaced. If the disputes and
differences between these two parties were not managed in time, it
will ultimately land the government on crises, which will serious
impact on the constitution writing process, too.
The recent row between the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress
is mainly on issue concerning parliamentary endorsement for
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Vice President Pramananda Jha This
issue is also being blown out of proportion by media. The Interim
Constitution has clearly stated the tenure of the President and Vice
President without any ambiguity. So there should be no dispute in it.
CPN-UML Chairman of the KP Sharma Oli, too, knows it well. But he is
raising this issue because of the internal problem of his own party.
After being elected as new Chairman of the CPN-UML, Oli has a huge
challenge to manage party's senior leaders like Jhalanath Khanal and
Madhav Kumar Nepal, on the one hand and unify the psychologically
divided cadres. This could have been Oli's strategic move to divert
attention and instill optimism and energy in the party cadres.
UML leader's only demand and concerns are the implementation of the
seven point deal reached between the Congress and CPN-UML prior to the
formation of the government. The deal consists, among others,
parliamentary endorsement of the President and Vice President. This is
politically correct on the part of the CPN-UML but it cannot be
challenged in the court of law. As far as the position of the Nepali
Congress is concerned, it wants the Interim Constitution to be
followed in letters and spirit. But it remains to be answered, why the
Nepali Congress, in the first place signed the deal against the spirit
and provisions of the Interim Constitution. Nepali Congress leaders
are well educated and well verse in constitutional and legal issues.
Even if they were confused, they could have consulted lawyers and
constitutional experts as Nepali Congress has no dearth of such legal
luminaries. This was a grave mistake on the part of the Nepali
Congress, the price of which it is now paying whereas the CPN-UML is
reaping its political benefit.
CPN-UML leaders have even started questioning the fate of the
present coalition government if the Nepali Congress was not prepared
to implement the deal in its letter and spirit. Despite the arguments
for public consumption, the CPN-UML is not likely to risk by pulling
down the present government on this issue. Even if the CPN-UML walks
out of government and withdraw support to the government, the Nepali
Congress still has options for alternative government. However, if the
CPN-UML walks out of the government, it has no option other than
sitting in the opposition bench. UML knows it well and would not make
a mistake to go the extent that may lead to the downfall of the
government. However, KP Oli, like Girija Prasad Koirala, has the image
as a man of stance and he normally and easily does not compromise his
stance and position he once takes. Thus, he may not easily give up
and compromise on this issue as well. Thus, the issue of parliamentary
endorsement for president and Vice President, too, is not likely to
fizzle out easily.
Thus, this issue is getting complicated, which needs to be resolved at
the earliest and in an amicable way. This issue has arisen as the
first Constituent Assembly failed to deliver the new constitution.
Once the constitution was promulgated, it will solve all problems and
issues. Thus, the political parties, instead of getting bogged down in
these polemics, are required to accomplish the constitution writing
process and give the country a new constitution that will once and for
all settle all disputes and issues.
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