Nepal in 1986: Problem of Political Management

Abstract

For Nepal, the year 1986 was significant in four respects. First, the partyless Panchayat System celebrated its 25th anniversary with various state-managed activities. The Silver Jubilee committee was formed in late 1985 under the chairmanship of Tulsi Giri, the senior pancha and former Prime Minister. But Giri resigned from the committee on grounds of health and preferred to stay away from the country. King Birendra, who has been providing active leadership to the system, initiated the celebration year in December 1985 by highlighting the contributions of the system and by calling for a dispassionate analysis of these achievements without losing sight of contemporary events in the world., Second, on the domestic political front, the same old dilemma seemed to force the power elites to pursue the carrot and stick policy toward their adversaries, including panchas. Nevertheless, the systemic opposition was more crystallized with some National Panchayat (NP) (parliament) members openly demanding the revival of a multiparty system in the country. Third, the foreign policy domain was a matter of satisfaction to the people at large because of various positive decisions that had been made. Nepal's friendship with most of the countries of the world was characterized by cordiality. Finally, King Birendra's pledge to raise the economic standard of Nepalis to the Asian level was the focus of much attention and doubts by serious observers, thus confusing the issue and problems facing Nepal. Stories of smuggling and corruption also dominated the national headlines.