Stable power, unstable politics

Some coalition leaders claim that the government's one year term is political stability. But is it political stability or just power stability? How much political justification has the coalition government been able to establish? How much is not? As the term approaches one year, some review of these questions is necessary

असार ३०, २०८२

राजाराम गौतम

Stable power, unstable politics

The Congress-UML coalition government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is completing one year on Tuesday (June 31). Oli looks a little more confident as the government's life is approaching one year. They are saying, 'those who are shouting that the government will collapse are shouting, the coalition will go until the election.'

Three weeks ago, Upendra Yadav's Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal withdrew its support to the government. The Civil Liberties Party (Naupa) also withdrew its support a week ago. There is deep resentment towards the coalition government in the ruling Congress party. Extensive questions were raised in the recently concluded Congress Central Committee meeting regarding the attitude and working style of the Oli government. Oli himself is under question in UML.

He is no longer the unopposed leader in UML. Dissatisfaction against him is seen on the surface. International power interests are also said to be not in Oli's 'favour'. Amid these many adversities, Oli has completed one year term of the coalition government. And, he is "confident" that he will continue for another year. 

The only reason why he can remain calm in the midst of many adversities is his favorable power partner namely Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. Deuba Oli is a strong supporter of the government. Before Oli said that the alliance will last until the next election, Deuba has already said that this joint government will govern for the entire term. As Oli said, until the interests and partnership between the top leaders of the two big parties are met, the coalition government will not prevail. Although there are dissatisfactions expressed within both the parties regarding the government and party leadership, they are not in a position to change the government. But, is the survival of the government in terms of arithmetic and technology an achievement? Shouldn't people feel that there is a government? 

Some leaders of the coalition claim that the government's one-year term is political stability. However, is it political stability or just power stability? How much political justification has the coalition government been able to establish? How much is not? When the tenure reaches one year, these questions need to be reviewed. 

seven points or one point?

To find the political justification of the government, the seven-point agreement between the top leaders of the two parties should be opened. The main spirit of the seven-point consensus was the formation of a government of national consensus. That is, all the parties in the House should be united to form a government of national consensus and amend the constitution based on consensus. The recent meeting of the Central Committee of the Congress has decided to form a working group for the amendment of the Constitution. However, this issue has already caught the air, when Oli expressed that the amendment of the constitution will take place in the year 2087. 

The issue of constitutional amendment was made a political cover by the Congress and UML, the two largest parties in the House, the internal internal power was only a part of power. It is clear that the alliance has no interest in the issue of constitutional amendment, as it does not review the weaknesses or achievements seen during the implementation of the constitution in one year, and does not seek to find the causes of political instability including the electoral system.

This alliance did not try to form a government of national consensus. Now the small parties participating in the government have also started leaving. Oli is currently focused on one point. That is, the issue of power sharing. He often talks about handing over the Prime Ministership to Deuba after his two years. We will have to wait another year to see what happens in practice. However, Oli has repeated dozens of times that he is committed to hand over the leadership of the government to Deuba, as mentioned in the fourth point of the seven-point agreement.

Governance : Showing teeth 

The coalition government's top priority was maintaining good governance in the country. From the day he became the Prime Minister for the fourth time, Oli continuously presented himself as the guardian of good governance. He repeatedly repeated, "I will not do corruption, I will not allow it to happen." However, there was no harmony between his words and actions. Government ministers are surrounded by financial disputes and lack of transparency. Many allegations of corruption have been made against the government ministers including the Prime Minister himself, leaders of the ruling coalition and other parties. 

Corruption has not only increased, it has become institutionalized. Although some are under investigation, there are still allegations of political retaliation. Questions have also been raised that the accused will get political protection and that investigations and prosecutions are being done on the basis of setting up others in power. To which the government has not been able to give a proper answer. 

Majority of the leaders of the major parties raised the need to form a high-level powerful asset investigation commission for public consumption. However, Oli formed a high-level governance commission under his own leadership.

The main cause of financial irregularities and corruption is opacity. Things like accountability and transparency should be the main features of a democratic government, but the government is failing in them. The non-disclosure of assets from the prime minister to ministers for a year is undermining the government's commitment to maintaining good governance.

There is a common psychology that the mechanisms created to control corruption, such as asset laundering, revenue investigation, vigilance center, authority, are organizations that work for those who want power. The government has not been able to destroy it, nor has it been able to raise new hopes by forming the Good Governance Commission. On the contrary, there is a risk of overlapping and duplication of existing institutions and structures. The slogan of good governance has only proved to be the teeth of the Oli government. 

Weak diplomacy

Another important priority of the Oli government was to improve relations with neighbors and other allies through balanced diplomacy. For that purpose, although there were many visits at the level of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, they could not be diplomatically successful. After recently returning from Spain, Oli claimed that his visit was successful diplomatically. Which is a formal comment made by every Prime Minister/Minister after returning from abroad. 

In the past one year, the Oli government has been mainly focused on improving relations with southern India. But the south neighborhood "ignored" Oli. Meanwhile, Oli tried to arrange many arrangements for visiting India through various means. However, India has not invited Oli for a visit even after one year of his tenure.

After India did not invite him to visit, he went to China. On his way to participate in the United Nations General Assembly, Oli had a brief 'sideline' talk with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As there were no signs of either his visit to India or Modi's visit to Nepal, his choice was to visit China. He returned after signing the VirRI framework with China. However, China is unhappy that the implementation of the agreements is relatively slow. 

Some people see recent developments within the UML as related to China's role. Especially, it is suspected that the fuel for the ambitions of former President Bidya Devi Bhandari's UML is coming from the north. Recently, after returning from a visit to China a few weeks ago, Bhandari officially announced her return to politics.

CPN Unified Socialist Jhalnath Khanal, who returned from a visit to China last week, not only commented on Bhandari's entry into active politics as positive, but also said that China wants left unity under his leadership. The message of these developments is that China wants to replace Oli with another leader. In other words, neither India nor China is happy with Oli. 

As far as Foreign Minister Arju Rana Deuba's role is concerned, she made an official visit to India on the opening day itself. During that time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with importance and the kind of response she got at that time was viewed positively. In the following days, she has visited many foreign countries. Arju has appeared on the international stage. However, what are the achievements of these visits are not in the 'notice' of the Nepali people. After each visit, bilateral relations have developed, Aspi 

She is limited to fat and old things like increased harmony. She initiated the release of Bipin Joshi, whose condition is still unknown. Whether it is about the return of Nepalis recruited in the Russian army or the release of Bipin, Nepal's diplomatic initiatives have not been fruitful. The government has claimed that the Everest dialogue is a success in terms of investment and diplomacy. The initiation of the Everest dialogue itself was positive. However, it was limited to a formal gathering, unable to bring high-profile guests. 

Jagen Biswas

This government was and still is responsible for making the recession-stricken economy run, creating an investment environment, and creating entrepreneurship. More than that, it was the main responsibility of the government to create an atmosphere of trust by removing the growing distrust and hatred towards politics in the general circle.

Restoration of public trust in government, parliament, judiciary was its main agenda. However, the government failed to restore public confidence. Instead, Prime Minister Oli's arrogant and arrogant style was repeated. After the formation of the government, Oli was in charge for some time. He got the support of two-thirds of the MPs when he was elected as the Prime Minister for the fourth time. Excited by that, he said, "Let's start a new 'chapter' in Nepali politics."

The day after being sworn in as Prime Minister, Oli wrote a Lambetan article in Kantipur titled "What's on my mind today?" In the article, Oli was saddened by the country's poverty and backwardness. One of the paragraphs of the article was, "Today, the delicate picture of the country is floating in my mind.

More than 20 percent of our sisters and brothers are living a life of poverty, lack and hunger. A child is starving. A mother is in heart-rending agony of being unable to satisfy the hunger of her child dearer than her heart, her liver. His heart breaks with the love of his children. She is helpless and forced to shed tears. What could be a more terrible scene for human society in the twenty-first century?' 

symbolically Nepal's dramatic picture  What will be in the mind of Oli who became the Prime Minister for the fourth time with

in mind today? Is there a picture like that? Oli's current expressions are not so emotional. He is confident in his eyes and arrogant in the eyes of the world. In the article, he also promised to launch a campaign to get rid of that lack of Nepali society and the terrible picture.

Maybe those terrible scenes have disappeared from his eyes. Now he has power in his heart and another year. As long as he has to annoy Deuba. It is necessary to leave power at the appointed time. 

When listening to Prime Minister Oli's speech now, one remembers the 'powerful' king of a folk tale. Who has guts, confidence and arrogance. One day the king held a meeting and said, "I am the most worthy and powerful leader in the world." None of you can challenge me. Whatever I do, I will do it right.'' Everyone nodded in yes style. An old Bhardar has dared to say that, Maharaj, true strength is to understand one's weaknesses and limitations.''

राजाराम गौतम कान्तिपुर मिडिया ग्रुप अन्तर्गतको 'साप्ताहिक' र 'नारी' मासिकको सम्पादक भएका राजाराम कान्तिपुरमा समसामयिक बिषयमा लेख्ने गर्छन् ।

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