Lawmakers from the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) are becoming increasingly vocal in their criticism of the government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah. During parliamentary proceedings, several ruling party lawmakers highlighted the hardships faced by ordinary citizens and urged the government to make its presence felt through more effective governance. In the early months of the administration, RSP lawmakers largely refrained from criticizing the government and instead defended its policies. However, they consistently raised public concerns, including shortages of cooking gas, the lack of chemical fertilizers, and the difficulties faced by farmers and laborers.
RSP lawmaker Manish Jha, who was reportedly denied both government and party positions, has adopted a more critical stance toward the administration. Speaking in Parliament, Jha said the government has failed to effectively manage state affairs. He emphasized that, to ensure good governance, protect democracy, and safeguard the Constitution, the government should make public trust in the state and confidence in the nation its guiding principles.
The government is also expected to face increasing street protests in the coming months. Teachers have already announced nationwide demonstrations. Manpower agencies are also planning protests to pressure the government to address their demands. Victims of microfinance institutions and cooperative fraud are already on the streets, as there has been little progress in returning their deposits. Likewise, squatters are organizing protests to press for their demands.
Meanwhile, the number of Rohingya refugees in Nepal continues to rise. According to the latest data from Nepal Police, a total of 526 Rohingya refugees have entered Nepal through the southern border. The actual number may be higher, as media reports suggest that more refugees continue to cross into the country. A few days ago, Nepal Police Chief Dan Bahadur Karki stated that the number of refugees from other countries has also increased, raising fresh concerns about border management and regulation.
As Nepali Congress leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to return to Nepal next week, speculation has emerged that he could be arrested in connection with a money laundering case, despite there being no indication that he is personally involved. Another significant development is that Deuba, who has largely remained silent on the party's internal rift, is expected to align himself with one faction by attending a meeting called by the anti-establishment group within the party.
Lawmakers from across party lines have continued to demand that Prime Minister Shah address Parliament directly. They argue that the Prime Minister should participate in a parliamentary question-and-answer session and apologize for his remarks regarding border encroachment. However, the Prime Minister has indicated that he prefers to communicate through official statements rather than engage in parliamentary debates.
Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs say preparations are underway to appoint ambassadors to 21 vacant diplomatic posts. However, balancing the interests of the ruling parties, the government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Prime Minister's Office has proven difficult. Earlier, the government issued a public call for ambassadorial applications, attracting around 3,000 applicants. Speaking in Parliament, lawmaker Khusbu Oli urged the government to ensure transparency throughout the appointment process. The government should demonstrate that it is selecting qualified candidates from the pool of applicants rather than relying on political patronage, as has often been alleged in the past. This may be one of the reasons for the prolonged delay in making the appointments.
The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), or CPN-UML, also appears to be facing an internal stalemate. Senior leaders have been calling for changes in the party leadership, including replacing the party chairman. An internal task force has reportedly recommended that K. P. Sharma Oli step down from the party's top position. However, Oli has shown no intention of relinquishing the leadership, leaving many party activities at a standstill.
Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also announced that preparations are underway to close Nepali embassies in Brazil, Denmark, and South Africa, as well as the Consulates General in San Francisco and Chengdu, China. Critics argue that this is not a prudent decision, as Nepal should maintain diplomatic representation in these strategically important locations. Foreign policy observers have warned that closing these missions would reduce Nepal's diplomatic engagement at a time when the country should be expanding its international presence.
Editor: Kamal Dev Bhattarai
