Two months after the Government of Nepal took over from the Baddies, the only country in the world which is named after its prime minister, is still running like a non-government organisation. Decisiveness has never been one of Makunay's strong points, so when he promises an end to the peace process in three months, rehabilitating kids from cantonments in three weeks and uprooting crime by Dasain, few Nepalis believe Nepal. The reason is MKN has been busier laying foundation stones and addressing crowds in Kathmandu 2 constituency where he lost the elections than in Singha Darbar attending to matters of state. In fact, listening to him one gets the feeling he is still in campaigning mode. They still don't get: the way to get re-elected is by doing something for the people not by delivering another speech. And now he's getting ready to jet off for the Unaligned Summit in Egypt the day after the budget is presented in parliament. That means another week down the tubes.

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But better late than never, MKN did manage to get a 4-point agreement to resolve a dispute over the 9-point agreement that nearly derailed the 12-point agreement. He got PKD to jot on the dotted line and manoevered GPK to arm-twist Lotus Flower. He (Makunay) also stuck to his guns, and refused Fearsome's insistence that the Baddies vet his speech to parliament before he delivered it, especially the sentence on "the president's unconstitutional move", the issue that has been the reason for the two months of deadlock. Com Chhabilal used a charm offensive and told Com Nepal: "Why are you being so difficult? After all, I read a speech the kangresis wrote for me when I addressed the nation on tv, remember?"

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The way in which the E-malaise are installing party faithful to head key govt media and corporations, it looks like they are making up with vengeance for lost time. That's why it does sound a bit like the pot calling the kettle red when one remembers how the You-ML moaned and groaned about the Baddies turning their ministries into employment centres for cadre in the last govt. So UML aparatchiks now head all govt media, although over at NTV staff refused to allow a political appointee entry.

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Awesome looked rather chuffed inaugurating the new 3 karod Baddie HQ on Paris Hill put together by the Maoist trade union from extortion money. As well he might because this is the swankiest party palace in Kathmandu. The kangresis never seem to be able to complete their party office in Sanepa because they're always diverting money somewhere else, and the UML's Balkhu office looks like a cross between Pashupatinath and the Lenin's mausoleum.

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Now that an ex-royal brother-in-law has become a Maobuddy the Ass' bet is that it is only a question of time before other royals also embrace Maoism. The only question is will ex-kingji also become Comrade Gyanendra?

ass(at)nepalitimes.com