KATHMANDU: Dissatisfaction with the performance of the ruling coalition government, led by the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, has now reached the Parliament floor, not just from opposition parties but also from lawmakers within the ruling alliance.
Despite commanding a near two-thirds majority, the government has come under increasing criticism for its failure to curb corruption and ensure good governance.
For the past two months, opposition parties such as the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) have been protesting inside Parliament, accusing the government of inaction. Now, voices of discontent have started surfacing from within the coalition itself.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, CPN-UML leader Gokul Baskota expressed frustration that the government had not moved forward on the constitutional amendment agenda, which had been a key commitment when forming the coalition.
He questioned the lack of urgency and formal efforts, urging the government to engage in serious self-reflection. Baskota also pointed to the administrative delays and inefficiencies that he said were fueling public frustration, allowing parties like the RSP to frame the traditional political forces as outdated and ineffective.
Nepali Congress lawmaker Bishwa Prakash Sharma also criticized the government, particularly for its failure to bring G.B. Rai, the main accused in a major cooperative scam, back from Malaysia.
While two of Rai’s business partners have already been jailed, Sharma questioned why the government had failed to act diplomatically to secure Rai’s return. He directed pointed questions at Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak regarding the lack of action.
Madhav Sapkota, a leader from the opposition CPN-Maoist Centre, declared that the government under Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had completely failed.
He criticized the government for ignoring the issue of constitutional amendments and for selectively targeting individuals in scandals like the Pokhara Lichhibari land case. Sapkota claimed the real culprits were being protected while an innocent Madhesi-origin minister had been dismissed.
Metmani Chaudhary from the CPN-Unified Socialist accused Prime Minister Oli of violating the constitution by refusing to seek a vote of confidence after coalition partners Nagarik Unmukti Party and Janata Samajwadi Party withdrew their support.
Citing Article 100(2) of the Constitution, Chaudhary said the prime minister was constitutionally required to face Parliament within 30 days of losing majority backing. He called the decision to avoid this vote unconstitutional, irresponsible, and foolish.
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