KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has acknowledged the challenges faced by the current coalition government and assured that any shortcomings will be addressed and improved moving forward.
Speaking at a program organized by the Democratic Thought Society in Kathmandu on Saturday, Deuba highlighted that despite being a large party, the Nepali Congress does not hold a majority and is therefore compelled to form a government in alliance with other parties, including the UML.
He stated that the Congress-UML joint government is committed to overcoming its challenges through cooperation and reform.
Deuba pointed out that under the current political system, it is difficult for any single party to secure a majority, making coalition governments and joint election contests a necessity. He highlighted that Nepal’s inclusive constitution ensures representation for all communities in the parliament, which he believes is key to the country’s ongoing development.
Reflecting on his past tenure as Prime Minister in 1995, Deuba recalled the controversial plan he introduced to grant customs exemption on vehicle purchases for lawmakers, which was opposed and labeled the “Pajero scandal” by critics.
He noted that despite the opposition, many of those critics took advantage of the customs exemption themselves. Deuba remarked that in a democratic society, it is natural to face criticism, but he remains confident in his right to defend his decisions.
The customs exemption plan was part of a coalition agreement between Deuba’s Nepali Congress and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), which sparked allegations of MPs misusing the scheme, including trading vehicles acquired under the exemption.
Deuba dismissed these claims, focusing instead on the larger political context of coalition governance and development progress.
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