Excerpts from an interview with Bal Bahadur Rai, member of the disciplinary committee of the Nepali Congress that expelled Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

As a member of the party disciplinary committee, would you say the decision to expel the prime minister from the party was an independent one, or was it by the party president?
Bal Bahadur Rai: We investigated the issue on the direction of the party, but the decision on the punitive action stemmed from our independent discretion. We are obliged to follow party directives, but the disciplinary committee is an active, independent, able and responsible agency within the party. We understand the party constitution and tradition, our decree is based on party values.

Do you think the punishment meted out to the prime minister was fair?
Our recommendation is fair. Given the kind of mistake the prime minister made, he deserves it.

What will you do about the ministers who did not resign from their cabinet positions as per the party's ruling?
I am not in a position to say what kind of action will be taken against these ministers yet, but the bottom line is that anyone who goes against party guideline is subject to punishment.

Who do you think could have advised the prime minister on his move [to dissolve parliament]? Do you think his advisors have the welfare of the nation in mind?
I don't want to name his advisors in public yet. But it is obvious that the prime minister is not acting alone, he has a group to advise him. And it is obvious that the he has been trapped by those who want to end democracy here, otherwise they would not have advised him to dissolve parliament.

Don't you think punishing the prime minister and other ministers will split the party?
Those members who are faithful would not consider splitting the party, others might break away from it. The Nepali Congress is a party with a proud history, but we cannot help it if somebody wants to leave.

Of Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala, who is a better strategist?
Both are equally good. Koirala is very straight forward, and stubborn too. But there is no better leader to head the Congress. It is because of him that our party is strong.

Who do you think will succeed Koirala as leader of the party?
I have not seen an appropriate successor to him in the party leadership yet, but I am optimistic the party will be able to nurture a new leader.

You have been criticised by your party for not having very good academic qualifications, how do you feel about that?
Academic qualifications aren't all that is needed to develop political vision and leadership abilities. A professor has never headed this country. One has to be determined to serve the people and have good moral conduct, in order to be a good leader. If academic qualifications taught leadership qualities to individuals, then how come the well-educated ministers are involved in corruption? I might not have academic qualifications, but I have all the qualities needed to lead the country, and I am against all sorts of corruption.