KATHMANDU: Reflecting on the completion of his one-year tenure on December 26, 2023, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda vowed a change in working style.
In a stern message to his ministers, he emphasized the imperative need for efficiency and hinted at consequences for poor performance.
In his address, Prime Minister Dahal announced, “If we cannot prove efficiency, nobody should continue to occupy the position.”
However, despite promises of a revamped approach, there appears to be a lack of substantial changes in his leadership style.
While the reduction of some employees in the Secretariat was implemented, reports suggest that the current staff levels remain excessive.
The Prime Minister’s commitment to making his term successful as a final opportunity has yet to be reflected in tangible improvements in his governance.
Within Nepal’s executive structure, where the prime minister holds a pivotal role, PM Dahal’s actions have not translated into success.
The looming discussions on the budget and the election of National Assembly Chairman further complicate the resolution of this issue, according to alliance party statements.
Despite his assertion that he would not compromise to safeguard his position, the promised cabinet reshuffle has been delayed for over two months, raising questions about the prime minister’s ability to deliver on his commitments.
Devendra Paudel, Secretary of the Maoist Center, sheds light on the situation, stating, “As soon as the alliance parties come to an agreement, the Cabinet is reshuffled.”
The gap between rhetoric and action leaves observers skeptical about the effectiveness of Prachanda’s leadership in bringing about the promised changes.
On the completion of one year of his tenure, Prime Minister Dahal delivered a speech signaling dissatisfaction with the government’s performance and vowed for a change in his working style.
However, as the promised reshuffle of ministers faces delays, questions arise about the role of the alliance and the prime minister’s commitment to results-oriented work.
In a conversation with Khabarhub, Nepali Congress leader Sarita Prasai expressed confusion about the prime minister’s inaction.
Prasai stated, “Nobody has stopped the Prime Minister from changing ministers.”
She emphasized that, in Nepal’s governance system, the prime minister holds the authority to make such changes but noted a lack of information about which ministers were unsatisfactory.
Prasai suggested that the prime minister’s failure to implement the reshuffle might be linked to his reluctance to alter his working style.
She argued that coalition politics should not be an excuse for the prime minister’s inability to deliver on promises.
Contrary to Prasai’s views, Barshman Pun, leader of the Maoist Center, asserted that discussions with coalition parties are ongoing regarding the cabinet reshuffle.
Pun highlighted that the prime minister is focused on upcoming budget preparations and emphasized the collaborative decision-making process for ministerial changes.
The delay in the promised reshuffle raises questions about the prime minister’s emotional speeches and his commitment to effecting change.
While some positive developments are noted, the overall progress towards fulfilling promises remains a subject of scrutiny.
During his one-year tenure, Prime Minister Dahal faced a significant setback in the crucial task of cabinet reorganization.
Leaders within the Maoist Center suggest that when attempting to address the issue of underperforming ministers in his speeches, the Prime Minister encounters difficulties, particularly when dealing with those perceived as corrupt.
The failure to address the findings of the self-government’s study committee, which implicated the minister in the incident resulting in the death of two citizens, has led to widespread criticism of both the minister and the Prime Minister for their perceived lack of moral accountability.
Despite his promises, Prime Minister Dahal has yet to provide a list of non-performing ministers to the respective parties.
The major coalition partners, the Nepali Congress and the Unified Socialist, are reluctant to engage in discussions about the proposed changes.
The alliance, previously at odds over the National Assembly elections, now finds itself entangled in the Nepali Congress Mahasamiti meeting.
The looming discussions on the budget and the election of National Assembly Chairman further complicate the resolution of this issue, according to alliance party statements.
Adding a moral dimension to the situation, in a recent question-and-answer session with MPs in the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Dahal faced criticism from the opposition party CPN-UML and Rastriya Swatantra Party.
Opposition MPs demanded the dismissal of Minister Prakash Jwala, who had been found guilty by an investigation committee in the Balkumari incident, where two youths lost their lives.
In response, the Prime Minister stated that the process of taking action would proceed after reviewing the investigation report.
Despite the passage of two days since the government investigation committee submitted its report, and an additional two days since the Prime Minister requested study time, neither the minister nor the Prime Minister has demonstrated moral responsibility or exercised their authority.
The failure to address the findings of the self-government’s study committee, which implicated the minister in the incident resulting in the death of two citizens, has led to widespread criticism of both the minister and the Prime Minister for their perceived lack of moral accountability.
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