In the meeting of the top leaders of the ruling party held at the Prime Minister's residence Baluwatar on Monday evening, all other issues were regular and natural, except for the management of the chair occupied by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Usually, the Prime Minister sits in a separate chair in such meetings. The rest of the leaders participating in the meeting sit in the chairs on the two sides of the meeting room, close or far away according to their position. In Monday's meeting, in the case of other leaders, the management of the stay was arranged in the traditional manner. Oli and Deuba had 'shared' the same table. Oli was recognized as a special person 'one level above' only by the chair he was sitting on.

Today's Prime Minister Oli is the same person who used to be criticized because of chair management when he was Prime Minister. Not only in party meetings, but also in public events, he was criticized for chair management. One of the references is the program organized in Koteshwar, Kathmandu on the occasion of National Plantation Day on 14 June 2076.

Oli, who was also the Prime Minister at that time, along with some of his ministers had reached that event. Satyamohan Joshi, the centenarian, also participated in the program. Although all other subjects were regular and natural, the management of the chair (sofa) there seemed inconsistent. Because, people like Joshi were sitting on ordinary chairs in the last wave, Oli was sitting on the grand sofa in the front. At that time, Oli was criticized for expressing his pride.

In the internal meeting of the CPN, which was formed by the unity of the UML and the Maoist Center, the management of Oli's chair once became like a "core issue". Which was discussed and countered by other leaders and Oli himself at that time.

But this time Oli has shown a different behavior. He has managed/made the chair to present Deuba as a leader of 'equal status'. What could be the reason for this?

Lessons learned from the CPN dispute

There were many causes and topics of the dispute within the CPN at that time. That includes the design and management of the chair. In the meeting of the nine-member secretariat, the Prime Minister and Chairman Oli used to sit on the sofa a little away from the other members. Another president Pushpa Kamal Dahal sat in front of the other members of the secretariat. Sometimes, when the two leaders became close or when Oli changed his mind, Dahal would also sit near him.

Even though he is the same chairman, the resentment in Dahal because of Oli's arbitrary management of the chair started to become public only after the party moved towards division. During the CPN period, he suggested that other leaders take a chair and place him next to Oli, but he did not do so, but he used to repeat in his speech the incident of being happy when others sat with them.

Formally the then CPN was a party, informally it was like a ruling coalition. Which party/alliance Oli could not sustain. As a result, the most powerful Prime Minister in history had to leave within three and a half years.

Giving Deuba a special place at this time can be understood in the sense that Oli has learned from the controversy within the then CPN. Mainly, he seems to be aware of not causing controversy within the coalition and prolonging his tenure.

Obligation to keep Deuba happy

Oli-led party CPN-UML is the second largest party in the House of Representatives, the first is the Congress. Since he became the prime minister with the help of the Congress, it is certain that Oli's position will remain only until the day the Congress takes over. Therefore, he has to maintain a smooth relationship with the Congress.

There is a different atmosphere within the Congress. Many leaders of the establishment including Shekhar Koirala disagree with Prime Minister Oli's decision and work style. Their public comments do not make much difference in the lifespan of the Oli government. However, such a situation is unpleasant for the Prime Minister of the coalition. It is also happening to Oli.

The way to neutralize the dissatisfaction of other Congress leaders is to support Deuba even more strongly. Because, now there is no situation in the Congress that will create a situation different from what Deuba wants.

To get Deuba's strong support and make him happy, Oli has been appreciating Congress, especially Deuba's support in running the government through public events. He has been setting the term of his prime ministership so that Deuba should not think left or right, i.e. should not think of the current alliance, and then he is saying that Deuba will become the prime minister.

Monday's chair management is a high-level effort to please Deuba. In the end of that effort, there is a hidden strategy to ensure that no danger comes to your chair.

Trying to change the image of moving forward

Oli always sounds harsh towards the opposition. While he was in the opposition, he has used many harsh words against the Congress, as he now uses against the Maoist Center and the Unified Socialists.

Another nature of Oli is that he keeps on using unnecessary 'power' even towards the power he is collaborating with. In some way, he has the nature of suppressing the powers that are close and in collaboration and presenting himself as a special leader. Because of this, his influence used to flow from the Prime Minister's chair.