Kathmandu: With the recommendation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, President Bidya Devi Bhandari reshuffled the cabinet and assigned ministries. The present coalition government has again presented a dismal scenario after PM Dahal had to appoint four Deputy Prime Ministers. The cabinet looks more dominant from coalition partners than PM Dahal and his ministries. Look at the present scenario: CPN UML has 8 ministries with important portfolio like Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Land Reform, Ministry of Women and Ministry of Defense. The RSP’s Rabi Lamichhane has already taken Ministry of Home Affairs.
So, the Prime Minister Dahal have to rely more on coalition partners. He doesn’t have security agencies, foreign affairs and finance ministries. It’s like a lamb dog situation. He and his party CPN (Maoist Centre) just hold 4 ministries. Prime Minister without key ministries will always be a difficult one. He will mostly rely on other’s performance, and he cannot enforce his development agenda. Neither he can implement his party’s agenda in the long run.
People are doubtful on the overall performance of the present government. Most of the ministers are new and less experienced. After taking charge of the ministries, most of the ministers have vowed to work for the people. They have promised to effective government delivery, good governance. Their programs sounds wonderful and sometimes unbelievable. For example, Minister for Labour Mr Dol Prasad Sharma was saying that he will work to create an environment for employment in the country, and nobody will have to travel foreign countries for employment. Now, studies show that nearly 4 million people have been working in foreign countries excluding India. They are the main source of remittance. The remittance contribute nearly 30 percent of country’s GDP. In such case, minister’s promise sounds bit confusing.
However, many of the cabinet members are new, energetic and action oriented. If they perform well and present themselves as a role model for the new generation, it will certainly devise a new path for young people. We have to take notice that many senior and mid-career leaders have to rest this time. For example, CPN UML’s influential young leaders as Yogesh Bhattarai, Krishna Gopal Shrestha, Raghubir Mahaseth have been dropped. Even in CPN (Maoist Centre), senior leaders have not got chance to join the government.
Most political pundits believe that the present coalition will break down anytime soon. Prachanda has no other option but to surrender with CPN UML. He must hand over power after two years. At that moment, Prachanda and his party will have nothing, like no Prime Minister, no President, no House Speaker. He will have only four or five ministries in the UML led government, probably of KP Sharma Oli. And their party, CPN (MC), will further break down and loose further seats in the next House of Representatives. KP Oli and his party CPN UML have the special mission to dismantle CPN (MC) and make a single biggest left ideology party in the country.
New cabinet:
