On Monday 26 Dec 2022, Pushpa Kamal Dahal (a.k.a Prachanda) sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal after victory of Communist allied parties in 2022 Nepali elections. India feeling concerns about Pro-Chinese government formation in Nepal.
Elections 2022 in Nepal
In recent Elections of 2022. Pro-India party Nepali Congress emerged as largest party in Nepali House of Representatives by wining 89 seats out of 275. Pro-China political alliance of Communist parties won 136 seats but were still 2 seats short of simple majority. They talked for coalition with smaller regional parties and got majority of 169 seats in 275 member Nepalese House of Representatives.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal brief introduction
Pushpa Kamal Dahal was born on 11 December 1954 in Pokhra, a city located in Central Nepal. His birth name was Ghanashyam Dahal which was changed to Pushpa Kamal Dahal during his matric exams. In 1950’s his father moved to Assam, India for work where he had a job of firewood collector. He later came back to Nepal in 1961. His family moved to Chitwan a fertile plain area of Nepal near border of India when he was 8. In 1971 Pushpa Kamal Dahal moved to Kathmandu(Capital of Nepal) for higher studies where he was enrolled in Patan Multiple Campus (PMC) of Tribhuvan University. He moved back to Chitwan and received a diploma of science in agriculture from Institute of Agriculture and Animal Research Science in Rampur, Chitwan. After failing to get government job he worked in a school in his village until 1979.
Because of extreme poverty conditions of his family and his hatred for Monarchy in Nepal. He was influenced by Communist ideology which caused him to join Communist party of Nepal in 1981 and became its general secretary in 1989. Party name was later changed to Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). Even after restoration of democracy in 1990’s Pushpa Kamal Dahal remained underground and his party was represented by Baburam Bhattarai in Nepalese Parliament at that time.
On 4 Feb 1996 Baburam Bhattarai issued a 40 point demand to Nepalese government which included abolition of unfair treaties including 1950 Indo-Nepal treaty, take over of lands from feudal lords and distribute among poor, homeless and landless Nepalese people, foreign domination of Capital, businesses and industries should be stopped and also stated that Monarchy in Nepal is a kind of dictatorship and biggest hurdle in development of Nepal. 40 demands were related to Nationalism, Livelihood and Democracy in Nepal. After that on 13 Feb 1996 Civil war started in the country led by Pushpa Kamal against Royal Government which ended on 2006 on fulfilling of demand of entry of Maoists in National politics and conducting constituent assembly elections. In 2008 constituent assembly elections Pushpa Kamal led Communist party (Maoist) became largest party in Constituent Assembly of Nepal by wining 220 seats out of 601 and the newly elected constituent assembly voted in favor of abolishing Monarchy in Nepal on first session of parliament with 560 out 564 voting in favor of abolishing Monarchy and only 4 opposing. Nepal was declared as a Federal Republic that day marking end of 449 year long rule of Shah dynasty of Nepal.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal served as Prime Minister on different occasions. His first term was of about 9 months started from 15 Aug 2008 to 25 May 2009 and 2nd term was of 10 months from 4 August 2016 to 7 June 2017.
Future of Nepal’s relations with India and China
Nepal, being a landlocked Nation share border’s with two giants India and China. Nepal maintained close ties with India because of cultural, religious and linguistic ties but in recent years relations began to sour when Indo-Nepal border was blocked for 6 months started from 23 Sep 2015 which severely affected Nepalese economy and created a humanitarian crisis. Not only oil imports were affected but also supply of food, medicine and earth quake relief material was affected which led to protests against India in London and Washington DC. Nepal accused India for border blockade and Nepalese Prime Minister at that time KP Sharma Oli started working on making stronger ties with China.
With Pushpa Kamal Dahal becoming Prime Minister again, India feels concerned that as a pro-China leader, he will strengthen Sino Nepalese ties which is not considered as a good sign for India as India is currently facing skirmishes and small scale fights along with her border with China. Nepal also has its own disputes with India over Kalapani, a 35 Km2 strip of land located at India, Nepal and China Tri-junction having route to ancient Kailash–Manasarovar pilgrimage site in Tibet region of China and also having Om Parvat Mountain which is considered sacred in Hinduism and Susta, a 50Km2 land located on East bank of Gandak/Narayni River on International border of Nepal and Indian State of Bihar.
