Deuba Passes Mantle

With the Gen Z uprising, Nepal’s politics underwent a dramatic shift – the KP Sharma Oli-led government was toppled, the House of Representatives (HoR) was dissolved, a new interim government was formed, and a new general election was announced. The movement of the youths, who were frustrated with endemic corruption and misrule of successive governments, posed a legitimate crisis to the leadership of the mainstream political parties. During the two-day movement, the houses of many political leaders and the offices of the parties were set on fire, dealing a psychological blow to them. All these incidents have put mounting pressure on the major parties to consider a leadership transfer. The CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre have already decided to hold their general convention in mid-December this year, a development catapulted by the growing call for the participation of youths in politics.  

Nepali Congress, the largest party in the dissolved parliament, is apparently ahead of two other parties -- UML and Maoist Centre -- when it comes to the leadership handover. On Tuesday, Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba passed the mantle to party vice president Purna Bahadur Khadka, designating the latter as the acting president of the party. Now, Khadka has the responsibility to hold the party’s 15th convention either in mid-December or in March next year.  Deuba and his spouse, Arzu Rana Deuba, appeared in public for the first time on Tuesday since the angry demonstrators thrashed and injured them at their Budhanilkantha-based residence on September 9. They were rescued by the Nepali Army and underwent medical treatment in a hospital in Kathmandu. During his first appearance, Deuba announced his retirement from active party politics, responding to the call for the leadership change.

In the wake of the Gen Z protest, Deuba has been under mounting pressure to quit the post, paving the way for the younger generation to take the helm. Senior leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala and General Secretary duo Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Gagan Kumar Thapa were among the vocal figures to press Deuba to relinquish the top job, which he had already served for two terms. Sharma and Thapa had already collected signatures of more than 54 per cent of convention delegates, demanding a special general convention. The party's central committee meeting, scheduled for Thursday, will decide whether to call a special or regular convention. 

Deuba, a five-time prime minister, also made his final address to the CC meeting in his capacity as party president. Stating that it was only the upcoming elections that would put the nation on the constitutional course, Deuba called on the government to create an atmosphere that would enable the holding of elections in a free, fair, and fearless manner. Deuba's position clearly contradicts that of the UML, which has demanded the reinstatement of the dissolved parliament. 

In his swansong, Deuba noted that the NC should hold dialogue with other political parties to chart the future political roadmap. Unlike the UML's anti-government posture, Deuba has supported Sushila Karki-led government, though he opposed the dissolution of the parliament. He also stood in favour of fresh elections. He has rightly said that the government has to ensure security during the polls, a democratic way to end the ongoing political crisis. With Deuba's passing the torch on to his successor, other political parties are expected to follow suit, contributing to the democratisation of Nepali politics dominated by aged leaders.