It is too early to predict on possible leadership crisis within RSP. Balen has been into power for less than a month. We still don’t know what is in the menu and what is he cooking?
Actors and Characters
Both men displays similarities as well as dissimilarities. Both are highly ambitious, up-coming celebrities displaying macho men characters. Both have a near dramatic, abrupt up-coming. Both display immense hate with mainstream political parties and their leaders. Both are media savvy. Both are young and angry - angry young men to be precise. There are no long historical profiles, we often read with other political leaders - serving behind the bars or going underground or in exiles, having career through hardship and turmoils.
However, they do present some contrasting pictures. Basically, one is extrovert in character (high PR, career in talking business, good with social skills, cares dressing codes and manners) while the other is an introvert (don’t talk much, remains calm and quiet, loves isolation, don’t care with attires and social etiquette). It is just uncomfortable to see him wearing black shades even during indoor formal meetings. Who knows, may be displaying “Rajnikant Style” in Bollywood movies?
Celebrities rise and fall
One thing sure about celebrities is that they rise fast, make lots of name and fame but they also fade equally fast. This is the defining character of celebrities.
Things are already simmering, if not heating up after an internal political fiasco over the voting of Deputy Speaker. One can also read a rift in hiring, firing and disciplining of ministers. This may be due to lack of experience, maturity or simply a teething problem. But the social media is posing a questions: Can Balen run the country for full five years?
Sharing Party and Power
It is reported in the media that both have decided to share, respectively, the controlling of the party and the government. Given the Nepal’s political history of chequered personality clashes (KP Bhattarai vs GP Koirala, Prachanda vs Oli etc) demarcating party politics and running a government is not easy. Much earlier, when Prachanda and Oli decided to run NCP double with two heads, I have written: It is rare to find in nature a two-headed creature. If you find one, it life is too short. Unity of command is one of the 14 basics principles of management outlined by French engineer, Henri Foyl in 1916. Is the structural engineer turned rapper knows how to dance to the tunes?
Three Hypotheses
Anybody occupied with social media can figure out three hypotheses on fray.
One, RSP president, Mr Ravi Lamichhane is a highly sacrificing leader (tyagi neta). He not only gave up Home Ministerial position but also the Prime Minister for the sake of party and its growth. It is sheer absurdity of his die hard fans to compare him with late Ganesh Man Singh. However, the fact may be totally different. His pending court cases plus possible scams related to use of dual passports and citizenship could be hanging sword of the Damocles.
Two, Balen has successfully captured RSP. Ravi has been totally side-lined. Soon he will be nowhere. One can infer this from Balen men capturing significant ministerial portfolios and, the last minute use of veto against RPP candidate. They may be a gentleman's agreement on leading the government and the party, the real power rests with Balen. Don’t get surprise if he is dragged further down into legal quagmire.
Three, without RSP, Balen is nothing. Had he not joined RSP, at the last hour, his fate would be comparable to that of Mr Kul Man Ghishing. Balen is clear about of his situation.
Party vs. Power
During NC crisis over party vs. power in early 1990s, there was a debate over which is important - the party or the power? NC big heads assume that the government should function under party guidelines. It is because the blame for anything going wrong would be taken by the party while the government take all the credits for its the gains and successes.
Due to this “claiming-blaming” factors, it is inevitable to have clash between the party and the power. Literally, we saw near similar situation with Prachanda and Oli within NCP double.
Being a student of management, let me put here my observations on why Nepali management fails? By and large, Nepali people are good at working individually but when it comes to team work, we fail despairingly. With two heads, this simply don’t work.
The duo has been popped up by some known and unknown forces. This is for sure. The present case may not be comparable with the past. Furthermore, the political situation is so fluid that nothing can be predicted in advance. Any thing can happen any minute. So far, only strength displayed by the duo leadership is intense hate with or the weaknesses of the political parties and their leaders. NC is extremely busy divided into Deuba and Thapa camps; strong internal dissent is brewing within UML amid its Oli being hospitalized and investigated; the Maoists party in tatters with Prachanda going nowhere; and madhesibadis, janjatis and tharus having existential problems. Once political dust is being settled the rubber will definitely hit the road. Just watch my words.
