JUMBO CABINET

The Kathmandu Post

25 August 2017

JUMBO CABINET

It seems that the big three parties want to compete among each other in forming the largest cabinet in Nepal’s history. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba formed the largest cabinet in Nepal’s history with 48 ministers in 1996. He was then followed by Baburam Bhattarai with 49 ministers, KP Oli with 40 ministers and Pushpa Kamal Dahal with 46 ministers. Two decades later, Sher Bahadur Deuba broke all the records by installing a 50-strong Council of Ministers, the largest ever in Nepal’s history (Deuba’s Cabinet largest ever” Aug. 23, Page 1).

According to the new constitution, Cabinets with more than 25-members are clearly prohibited. Isn’t it the prime minister supposed to follow the elements and spirit of new constitution? They should be safeguarding the new constitution instead of violating it? Is it necessary for them to compete with each other to satisfy the desire of lawmakers by appointing them as ministers? Don’t they have to realize that such competition among parties will have a negative impact on good governance which is urgently needed?

This Cabinet expansion will have an even greater effect on the state coffers at a time when the nation is struggling to meet the expenses of reconstruction programmes due to earthquake of 2015 and the recent devastating floods and landslides. Where will the funds to bear these additional and unwanted operational expenses come from? It seems that the common people will have to bear the brunt of this unplanned step by the Deuba led government,

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharjgunj

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2017-08-25/death-of-sincerity.html