CPN-UML leader Subas Nembang's cellphone rang when he was at UML Chairman KP Oli's residence in Balkot on January 10.
Nepali Congress (NC) leader Minendra Rizal had made the call after reaching Prime Minister (PM) Sher Bahadur Deuba's official residence in Baluwatar to make that call. UML Chairman Oli was on the sofa by Nembang's side while CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was sitting on the opposite side.
Nembang handed over his phone to Oli after exchanging pleasantries with Rizal while Rizal also handed his over to Deuba. Deuba asked about the health of Oli who was flying to Bangkok, Thailand for health checkup later that day.
Bitterness between Deuba and Oli has increased after the election. Oli has been accusing Deuba of sticking to the PM post despite the left alliance emerging victorious. Deuba, on the other hand, has been telling his close circle that Oli has grown arrogant after the election.
Nembang and Rizal have tried to normalize the icy relation between the PM and the PM in waiting. They had met in a party in the evening a day earlier. Nembang had confided with Rizal during the interaction that bitterness between the political leadership is not desirable.
"It is our country. The provinces are ours. There will be dispute later if we announce temporary provincial capitals now," Rizal recalled telling Nembang that evening. Rizal complained that UML has refused to cooperate on the issue of appointment of provincial chiefs and selection of provincial capitals, and added "It would be better if we can make the two leaders talk."
Nembang had pointed that the two parties can even reach agreement on appointment of provincial chiefs and selection of provincial capitals. The leaders agreed to get the two top leaders to talk due to that possibility.
Rizal proposed that respected persons should be appointed as provincial chiefs in political consensus to ensure that the next government does not immediately fire those appointed now and dignity of the post is maintained.
Deuba wanted to appoint provincial chiefs before Oli left for Bangkok that day. He proposed that NC and UML should get to appoint chiefs in two provinces each, and the other three national parties in one each.
UML has been saying that appointment of provincial chiefs is prerogative of the government and it should not ask UML about that clearly hinting the new government will not continue that. UML also seemingly has brought Maoist Center on its side on the issue.
"Do delegate the authority for provincial chiefs to someone even if you are going to Bangkok for treatment," Deuba had told Oli over the phone, according to Rizal.
Oli told bluntly that the issue of appointment of provincial chiefs is not related to UML and asked Deuba to pave the way for forming the next government, according to Nembang who was near Oli during the conversation.
"The two talked over the phone but Oli did not try for consensus. PM said he will wait for Oli if Oli were to return on Monday (January 15)," Rizal, who was near Deuba during the phone conversation, said.
Deuba is seeking go ahead from UML on appointment of provincial chiefs, according to Rizal while Oli does not seem to be in mood for that. "PM asked for go-ahead from UML. Chairman Oli asked Deuba why he needs consensus now when he did not need it at the time of preparing the ordinance for National Assembly election," Nembang stated.
Maoist Center Chairman Dahal could also overhear the conversation between Oli and Deuba. "Dahal nodded his head in support of Oli's remarks," Nembang said.
Rizal said Deuba will now take decision on provincial chiefs only after Oli returns on January 16. Deuba is wary whether Maoist Center will come to agreement after quitting the government.
Finance Minister Gyanendra Karki said Deuba during the Cabinet meeting on Friday also stated that provincial chiefs will be appointed only after talking with other political parties.
Deuba said provincial chiefs will be appointed only after January 17 even while addressing the public in a program in Dhangadi on Sunday.
