As Maoists and Communists yet again become major players in Nepal, the Chinese element is poised to dominate the overall geo-politic opus of South Asia.
Democracy in Nepal was largely brought about and led by the bespectacled Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal 17 years ago.
However, when the 68-year-old former Marxist guerrilla leader took up the country’s top job on December 26 last year, his detractors once again called him the “ultimate opportunist.”
Of course, they had enough reasons to call him so.
According to his critics, he is self-centred and clever and can ditch his closest aides and allies at the drop of a hat if it benefits him. Apparently, Dahal has a long history of jumping ship to partner with ruling parties.
Dahal came to the helm of affairs with 32 seats in the Himalayan nation’s 275-member Pratinidhi Sabha (House of Representatives) following the elect-ions.
The November general election failed to produce a clear winner, although the Nepali Congress emerged as the single lar-gest outfit.