No role in sinking ship under our command: NC

Kathmandu:  For the first time after the Nepali Congress-led five-party ruling coalition fell like a house of cards despite garnering a majority in November 20 federal and provincial elections, the party organized a press conference in Kathmandu, on Wednesday. Helming the conference was none other than party Spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat. While whodunit over the collapse of the erstwhile coalition continues, Mahat tried to wash his party’s hands of the debacle. Instead, he accused CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal of betrayal that caused the collapse of the NC-led ruling alliance and made way for a new ruling alliance.   The NC did not get enough time to hold talks with Maoist Chair ‘Prachanda’ for giving continuity to the pre-poll alliance under the latter’s leadership, Mahat maintained. While talks on continuing with the erstwhile coalition were underway, Prachanda joined forces with the CPN-UML at the last minute, he noted and objected to the move. Mahat had an answer for those wondering as to what his party was doing after the debacle. “We are assessing the impact of this switching of sides,” he said. 

The leader hastened to add that NC was not trying to cobble together a coalition for returning to power. Further, the NC leader said: The current coalition consists of monarchists and anti-monarchists, federalists and anti-federalists, glued together for positions of power.

This coalition may come crumbling under its own weight, Mahat forecasted. Talking about his party’s future plans, Mahat offered a glimmer of hope, saying: The Congress will play the role of a strong opposition.  Easier said than done, but here’s hoping that the party will walk the talk. After all, hope springs eternal even during a grim winter like this, doesn’t it?