Koirala government fails in all fronts

Yuba Nath Lamsal

It’s been five months since the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was convened and the coalition government headed by Sushil Koirala was formed. However, given the snail’s pace with which the government is moving ahead, the government has not been able to make its presence felt and instill optimism in the general mass and the intelligentsia that the government and the ruling parties would keep the promises made to the people during the Constituent Assembly election held in November last year.

All the political parties had made their stance and position clear to the country and the people during the election in which they had promised to give the country a competent, efficient and effective government to be able to solve the country’s problems and deliver swift services to the people. The other but most important promise they had made was the writing and promulgation of a new constitution within a year. The Nepali Congress triumphed in the election as it emerged as the largest party in the CA, though it has still short of the much required magic number to form its own government. The emergence of the CPN-UML, with which Nepali Congress can share in many of the agendas, as the second largest party has come as a big relief to the Congress. The emergence of CPN-UML has made things easier for the Congress as the combined strength of these two parties forms comfortable majority to run the government. As some fringe parties have already joined the coalition government and some have backed the government from outside, the present coalition government now commands two-third majority in parliament. If the government works strictly in conformity with its promises taking into account the largest interest of the country, it will have no obstruction from anywhere either to run the government or promulgate the constitution. Although the opposition parties may try to put up some hurdles on the path of the government, Sushil Koirala can sail through smoothly if he has the intention and will power to do so. But the government seems to be confused in itself and has got embroiled in frivolous issues that is leading it nowhere.

In the slightly over four month since the Koirala led government was formed, there is not even a single achievement that is worth mentioning. If we look at the good governance issue that the present ruling parties had promised during the election, the government has miserably failed. There is neither good governance nor quick delivery of services. Right in the beginning, the government drew much public flak as half a dozen ministers in the present cabinet were either defeated in the election or did not contest, which is politically and morally incorrect and illogical, though not legally and constitutionally. But politically it is a mistake and a wrong message to the people. The problem has started from this point and the government seems to be making mockery of democracy.

Secondly, the whole concentration of the ruling parties and more particularly the Nepali Congress so far is to give benefits to their workers instead of ensuring good governance. Even the two key coalition partners seem to be in virtual conflict on issue concerning appointments and other benefits. The Nepali Congress considers itself as a principal party in the present cabinet and tends to treat the CPN-UML as the junior partner. On this token, Nepali Congress wants a lion’s share in the benefits but wants the coalition partners to equally share the discredit if it at all occurs due to the functioning or mal-functioning of the government. However, the CPN-UML is has slightly less number of seats in the CA than those of the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML is by no means a junior partner. The position of the CPN-UML is such that the Nepali Congress cannot even imagine leading the government without the CPN-UML. Thus, the CPN-UML is the key partner in the present coalition government and any efforts to undermine and underestimate its role and position would only backfire. In an interview to an English language daily recently, the parliamentary party leader of the CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli has put forth his views that the CPN-UML may not always be willing to stay in the government if the Nepali Congress tends to treat it as a junior partner.

While the government has virtually done nothing in domestic front over the last four-plus months, it is disaster in international relations and in the conduct of foreign policy and diplomacy. This is purely because of Prime Minister Koirala’s own lethargy, negligence and incompetence. Almost two dozens of Nepal’s missions abroad are functioning without the mission heads or ambassadors. Nepal does not have its ambassador in New Delhi for three years. India is a country with which we have barrage of issues to be settled. These issues need to be sorted out through diplomatic acumen and skill. However, the present government seems to be least concerned about our national interests abroad.  As a result, our diplomatic performance and presence in the international arena is getting weak and poor.

Prime Minister Koirala is perhaps Nepal’s most powerful prime minister in the period of last one decade as he commands two-thirds majority in parliament. However, his performance is one of the weakest and poorest. He failed to exercise his authorities and power both at home and abroad. If we look at his recent visits to India and China, his role and ability seem to be in question in handling foreign affairs and diplomacy. Prime Minister Koirala was among the seven other South Asian leaders who were invited to New Delhi to attend the inauguration of newly elected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was definitely a good opportunity to demonstrate Nepal’s diplomatic performance and role on the part of Prime Minister Koirala. Perhaps, our Prime Minister’s role and performance was one of the weakest. Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan stole the limelight, which is natural due to its size and issues with India. Similarly other leaders like Mahinda Rajapkha of Sri Lanka, Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan had made their presence strongly felt in New Delhi whereas Nepal’s Prime Minister seemed to be virtually in oblivion during his New Delhi sojourn, which may be, to some extent, a national disgrace. This may not be Prime Minister’s own fault but his team of advisors seemed to be less competent and less serious on this issue and perhaps failed to make good preparation well in advance. Similar case is with his visit to Kunming of China. The People’s Republic of China had extended invitation to Prime Minister Koirala almost four months ahead to be a special guest in the China-South Asia Expo in Kunming. However, Prime Minister Koirala did not give his definite answer whether he would be joining the other heads of the state and government from South Asia in Kunming. As a result, our prime minister was not able even to go to Beijing and meet Chinese President and Prime Minister, whereas Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed was accorded high level of respect in Beijing and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang. Had our Prime Minister given his nod to China visit quite in time, he could also have received such a high level of welcome in Beijing. Prime Minister Koirala showed his reluctance to go to China due to fear of being New Delhi’s bête noire for picking up China as the first country of his foreign trip. He decided just a week ahead after coming back from Ne w Delhi. This is fundamental weakness and flaw in independently handling foreign affairs and diplomacy. He is the prime minister of a sovereign country and he should have taken a bold and independent decision to visit any country in the world. Here comes his yet another failure.

So far as the promulgation of the constitution in time is concerned, it is not likely that this goal would be achieved given the slow pace and posture of the Koirala-led coalition government. As per the calendar set by the Constituent Assembly, the first draft has to be completed by October this year. We have only four months left to meet this deadline of preparing the first draft. The way and pace with which the CA members are working, it may not be possible to meet this target, although it is not totally impossible. If the draft is not prepared by October, the promulgation of the new constitution may not be accomplished within a year, which would prove yet another failure of the Koirala-led government. This shows that the present Koirala-led government seems to be a failure on all accounts.