Hope for the best

The Himalayan Times

15 March 2018

Hope for the best

Finally, Nepal has got a stable and powerful government under the premiership of CPN-UML Chairman K.P.Oli.  He was able to secure 208 votes in the 275-member House of Representatives on Sunday, which was more than two-thirds majority, to win the vote of confidence. The UML and CPN-MC had fought the provincial and federal elections under the left-alliance.  Surprisingly, both Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal (SSF-N) and Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N), who were critical of Oli for his stand against the amendment of constitution, also supported him.

It seemed that the left-alliance’s slogan “Stability for the prosperity” put forward during the elections had nicely worked to attract the voters towards them. People were desperate to see a stable government in place for long time that would lead the country towards prosperity. The real hard time for the Oli led government has started now albeit it has got the mandate of running the government for full five years “Road ahead” (THT, March 13, Page 8). Political instability for the last 27 years was to blame for the lack of overall development of the country. In that case, there will be no excuses for this strong government for the next full five years with all the opportunities in its hands. The three months commonly called “honeymoon period” for this government will remain crucial to show its political performance. One of the tough tasks for this government will be to amend the constitution in order to pacify the SSF-N and RJP-N, who upon Oli’s assurance to do so have supported his vote of confidence.

Deciding to bring four states agencies seem to be a well designed strategy to make the Prime Minister’s office more powerful. If this system is properly implemented under his effective supervision will definitely bring enormous changes in minimising institutionalised corruption.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj