Secret Nepal power deal under scanner

The secret deal signed by new Nepal Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal with Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to reach the post is set for changes. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Feb 9, 2011, 01:46:32 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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The secret deal signed by new Nepal Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal with Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to reach the post is set for changes.

Khanal became Nepal's 34th prime minister last week with Maoist support after inking the deal with Prachanda by keeping his party, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), in the dark.

Now faced with opposition from within his party, Khanal who also heads CPN (UML) has admitted his 'mistake' the agreed to review some clauses of the contentious seven-point agreement. The CPN (UML) standing committee endorsed the deal after a heated debate in the PM's official residence late on Monday night.

"Some clauses would soon be rephrased after consultations with Maoists," senior CPN (UML) leader Bam Dev Gautam told media persons.

The rephrased deal would allow all coalition partners to head the government on rotational basis and specify that the CPN (UML)-Maoist alliance would try and include all other parties.

Another debated point stating that the alliance would strive to draft a people's democratic constitution would be changed to 'federal democratic constitution'.

Earlier in the day, after days of speculations, both Khanal and 'Prachanda' admitted that they had signed the deal to end the seven-month long standoff over government formation.

But Nepali Congress, the second largest party in parliament, and some Madhes-based outfits say that the deal violates the peace deal signed at the end of the civil war as well as the interim constitution.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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