Nine-month gestation—election to resignation

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' who became Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal's First Prime Minister resigned just a day before a videotape in which he had revealed plans of staging coup and capturing power was released. While announcing his resignation he said he could not accept President's move to reinstate the Army Chief he had sacked, and could not either lower his head before the 'foreign gods'.

In the picture above: Two happy supporters of the Republican Nepal; Prachanda defeats Sher Bahadur Deuba and becomes Prime Minister of Nepal; he sacks Army Chief, UML pulls out of the government, the President decides to keep the Army Chief, and then the PM resigns; former Supreme Commander of PLA Prachanda at the 8th PLA Day in Haattikhor; while working as the PM, the Maoist Chairman in the House reiterated many times his commitment to return seized properties; an Indian writer wrote a biography of the rebel leader; the clip of the videotape in which he tells his cadres the party's plan of staging coup and capturing power, admitting that the PLA's number had been increased five times by the party; then he clarifies about it at a press conference…

A rebel-turned-Prime Minister

Among the rows of histories created this year (2008), former rebel leader, Pushpa Kamal Dahal made one, by being elected the first Prime Minister of the kingdom that turned into the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

Indeed it is a good thing that a leader who waged a decade-long bloody war in the country, that took lives of nearly Fourteen Thousand Nepalis ended the war and joined mainstream politics to be eventually elected as the Prime Minister. But there are quite a few things, that I, personally am not happy about. You might consider these petty things, but I take it seriously.

Instead of wearing a national dress, the former rebel wore a Western Suit and tie while taking the oath of office and secrecy. If that he thinks is okay, then why does not the party, he heads think it's okay to allow the Miss Nepal event?? What's wrong with that one? Unlike the Maoist Supreme Leader, the girls there promote their nationality and ethnic values.

Congress Prez adminsters oath to Maoist PM

They wear their ethnic/national dressess. Is that diagonal-stripes tie Nepali? Are those meticulously ironed coat and pant Nepali too? Then, why be a hypocrite?

Another thing--Not taking the oath "in the name of God" but "in the name of the people"......FINE, as long as you truly prove that you don't believe in God or any religion. It is expected that a Communist leader does not believe in God, but why then do you attend religious functions? Why then do you accept blessings from religious leaders? Why, of all the things, do you put tika? Well, you might say, Red symbolises power, but in our society, the vermillion stands as Deuta ko Prasad also, and you very well know it.

Another thing we should be concerned about Mr Prime Minister is that of the extra security. Earlier, PMs used to be satisfied with 80 army men, but for Mr Dahal, that's not enough. He will have more than double of it--150 army men, along with a couple dozens of Armed Police Force, and his own People's Liberation Army that fought the bloody battle with civilians and security forces of the country for a decade.......

Rastriyata bokna gaaro naparos!

CHALLENGES

With reservations, people have accepted Mr Dahal as a Prime Minister because they want peace, lasting peace. He has certainly taken Nepal to a new direction but if the government that he is going to lead, misleads the people and disregards the people's aspirations to live in a violence-free country that ensures their basic rights and needs, then something unfortunate won't be undeniable.

Mr and Mrs Dahal at the oath taking ceremony