The ruling parties have dashed Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai's hope to make political capital out of post-earthquake reconstruction works.
Bhattarai, an ex-Prime Minister and Vice Chair of the UCPN (M), had been lobbying for chairmanship of the post-earthquake reconstruction authority.
The NC and the UML on Sunday pushed through an ordinance to set up a Prime Minister-led committee to undertake post-earthquake reconstruction projects, leaving Bhattarai's dream in tatters.
UCPN (M) and Madhesi leaders walked out of an ongoing four-party meeting, but that did not deter the NC-UML from tabling ‘Ordinance on Reconstruction of the Structures Damaged by Earthquake-2015' in a cabinet meeting Sunday evening . The cabinet endorsed and forwarded the ordinance to the office of President. The ordinance will come into effect once President Ram Baran Yadav approves it.
The UCPN (M), which recently signed a 16-point constitution deal with the NC and the UML, is miffed at rejection of Bhattarai as the Chair of the reconstruction authority. The party is unlikely to extend its support to the NC-UML when the ordinance needs to be endorsed by Parliament after six months.
Although the NC-UML cited lack of time to pass an act paving the way for Bhattarai to lead the reconstruction authority, their motive seems to be preventing the Maoist ideologue from making political capital by leading donor-funded reconstruction projects.
The UCPN (M) says a powerful reconstruction authority headed by Bhattarai or someone of his stature was necessary because the PM-headed National Advisory Committee would be just an extension of the government.
"Mark my words, this PM-led body will fail," says Debendra Poudel, one of Bhattarai's confidantes. "It would just be yet another organ of the government, and will not have capability to rebuild the country."
Poudel, a UCPN (M) Standing Committee Member, argues Bhattarai was the best candidate to lead the reconstruction authority. "He is an honest and hard-working leader with a doctorate degree in urban development," he says. "Where else would you find a more qualified candidate than him?"
Even within the ruling parties, there are some who say Bhattarai would have been the best bet. "We should have welcomed a qualified leader like Bhattarai as the reconstruction authority chief," says Ram Kumari Jhakri, a youth leader in the CPN (UML). "We should rebuild the country for at least 100 years; and we need an experienced and far-sighted leader for this job."
Bhattarai, regarded more as a technocrat than a politician, was relatively successful as a Finance Minister. But while in the Prime Minister's office, he courted controversy for allegations of corruption involving his wife and UCPN (M) leader Hisila Yami.
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