Narayan Manandhar

After the Gen-Z movement, there has been a u-turn in my thinking and attitude towards K.P. Sharma Oli, the CPN-UML president.

I underwent a similar u-turn regarding the late K.P. Bhattarai of the Nepali Congress. During the Jana Andolan I (1990) days, I used to be a big fan of his. He was a kind of superhero to me, a role model to envy, until the arrival of Jana Andolan II (2007/08), when my attitude shifted towards the late G.P. Koirala. Association with Congress leaders and cadres informed me that, within the NC, Mr. Koirala was the real action hero—a man who kept his promises and feared nothing. Actually, it was Koirala who dethroned Gyanendra Shah. I have had a similar turnaround regarding the Maoist supremo, Comrade Prachanda.

From Olitics-politics to Politics-Olitics

About two decades ago, I conceived the term "Olitics-politics" to refer to Oli’s all-knowing, narcissistic, and megalomaniacal character. Basically, he thinks the world in general, and Nepal in particular, revolves around him. That is what I meant by Olitics-politics. Obviously, he has not moved an inch from that character. But the situation in the country has brought him to a state of politics-Olitics; that is, instead of him dictating the politics, it is the other way around. Politics is all about Olitics now.

Listening to him during his first public appearance in Gundu, Bhaktapur, after the Gen-Z movement, he turned out to be a man of determination and standing. Definitely, he is terribly angry with the way he has been forced to resign and forced to abandon the residence at Baluwatar. Overnight, he lost all privileges associated with heading a government. He has quipped, “Had it just been five minutes late?” In spite of these incidents, he has not fallen an inch. Instead, there is a kind of resolute standing and determination to rise from the ashes. Just imagine if he were not with us today. Also, imagine if he were subdued like the President or NC President Mr. Deuba. It is one thing to be in a reconciliatory, accommodating mood, but a different thing to surrender to your enemies. We would very much be in a Panchayat-like situation of partylessness and voicelessness. At the moment, Oli is the one and only opponent. The situation has brought him to the status of Mr. Ganesh Man Singh during Jana Andolan I, or for that matter, Mr. G.P. Koirala during Jana Andolan II.

Oli and Bruce Lee

Similar to Bruce Lee single-handedly fighting his opponents, albeit in martial arts cinema, Oli, too, is currently fighting opponents—both inside and outside his party—all alone, and that, too, at his age and in his condition. He is being constantly attacked by the government, by goons, by some factions of Gen-Z, and by brand-new political thugs. He does not give two cents about them. He is constantly throwing taunts and innuendos, and making jokes out of them. He is the one and only opposing force to be reckoned with in present-day politics in Nepal. Hopefully, he will keep it up to liven up Nepali politics.

Narayan Manandhar