Foreign Affairs
India’s foreign policy pundits and analysts have given mixed reactions over the appointment of CPN Maoist Centre Chair Puspa Kamal Dahal Prachanda as new Prime Minister.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first regional leader to congratulate Prachanda. But India’s Nepal-watchers and media have given cautious reactions, with several describing Prachanda as “pro-China”.
However, Prachanda has been maintaining all along that his party wants do develop "equal relationship" with both of the big neighbours.
Jawaharlal Nehru University Professor and a keen Nepal-watcher Sukh Deo Muni has reacted critically. Writing on Twitter, @SDMUNI termed Prachanda a “genius” and the new coalition government “a complex”.
“The genius of Prachand in Nepal has concocted a complex coalition. On one political platform are, erstwhile rivals, Hindutva nationalist and assertive anti-India nationalists, monarchists and Communists, entrenched and emerging forces and federalists and erstwhile separatists,” he tweeted.
Earlier, on December 2, he wrote that “Dr CK Raut’s victory is a glowing tribute to the Nepali People’s commitment for an inclusive, democracy, cooperative federalism and peaceful progress.”
Until recently, Raut spearheaded a separatist movement but he gave up that campaign on March 8, 2019 when he decided to join mainstream politics. Having won hundreds of local councillor seats in local elections in May, his party bagged six seats in November 20 election.
The same day, Muni posted another tweet suggesting Deuba to withdraw claims for prime ministership “keeping in view the national resistance to established leadership in Nepal and increasing challenge to his leadership within the NC”.
BRI and MCC
Ashok Swain, Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, has offered a slightly different viewpoint.
“The not-so-surprise political development & 'Prachanda' becoming the Prime Minister in Nepal is being analysed as a power tussle between China and India. Don't forget the US, and the competition between BRI and MCC,” @ashoswai tweeted.
Lower house of Nepal’s Parliament on February 27, 2022, ratified Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact, a $500 million grant for road and transmission line development, amid heated controversy.
It followed Nepal’s political leaders’ ever-readiness to accept projects under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which, though are yet to see the light of day.
Most Indian media outlets have portrayed Prachanda as “pro-China”.
Shashank Matto, a foreign affairs commentator, wrote on Live Mint: "Prachanda's return to power may be a concern for India given that his relationship with New Delhi is complicated, to say the least."
Nepal PM Prachanda’s decision to dump its Nepali Congress partner and ally with fellow Communist KP Oli is only a partial victory for China. India needn’t be perturbed at the opportunist politics unfolding as Prachanda’s party-hopping demonstrates his weakness. Kingmaker Oli knows he has to work with PM Narendra Modi.
Senior journalist Jyoti Malhotra has described the Christmas Day political drama in Nepal as “KP Oli’s coup against Deuba” which brought “comrades to power in Nepal”.
'Many cards'
Yet, without specifying, she argued, “India still holds many cards.”
The Print’s “50-word-edit” argued that India need not worry.
It said: “Nepal PM Prachanda’s decision to dump its Nepali Congress partner and ally with fellow Communist KP Oli is only a partial victory for China.” “India needn’t be perturbed at the opportunist politics unfolding as Prachanda’s party-hopping demonstrates his weakness. Kingmaker Oli knows he has to work with PM Narendra Modi.”
Senior Nepali journalist Yubaraj Ghimire wrote in the Indian Express: “Sher Bahadur Deuba in power was the best case scenario” for India. But “with Prachanda's ally in the current government, KP Oli, is being viewed as pro-China”.
Meanwhile, Nischal Nath Pandey, a Nepali foreign policy pundit, suggested that India adopt a new Nepal Policy. “The new government led by Prachanda will be shaky. What India needs to do is keep all communication lines open,” Pandey wrote in his op-ed piece for Times of India.
Also Read: As western powers watch, China, India and Pakistan wish Prachanda well
