Balen Shah's Government Sets New Standard for Governance in Nepal

Kathmandu. 'Perform excellently, or resign if you cannot.' Immediately after taking the oath of office on Chaitra 13, Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah issued this directive to his ministers during the first cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar.

Facing the challenge of justifying the near two-thirds mandate and trust bestowed by the public, Prime Minister Balen made it clear from the start: there is no room in this government for those who do not work or cause delays. He issued a stern warning not only to ministers but also to the secretaries, the pillars of bureaucracy, stating, 'If you can work, do it; if you cannot, do not obstruct ministers by shuffling files—clear the way yourself.'

The aspirations of the Nepali people for years are not grand. They simply want to avoid paying bribes while standing in line for passports for their children. They want access to hospital beds and medicine when ill. Farmers want fertilizer and students want books on time. However, the bitter reality is that past governments followed a policy of 'law for the small, choice for the big,' leaving the common people to suffer.

The current desire of the average Nepali is to see in practice that the Prime Minister and the common citizen are equal in the eyes of the law. People want leaders who solve problems on the ground, not those who live in palaces and support party cadres. They want a government that breaks the web of 'setting' and 'syndicates' to make daily life affordable and accessible. The public hopes this desire takes concrete shape under Balen's leadership.

Whether Balen and his party, RSP, can address and implement these desires remains in the testing phase. However, Prime Minister Shah has already made public 100 action plans for governance reform, approved by the cabinet. Accordingly, a campaign has been launched to make land revenue and survey offices free of middlemen.

To solve the problem of files getting stuck in government offices, a 'zero-pending file' campaign has been initiated. Efforts have begun to resolve the long-standing issue of driver's license delays. Many reformative works are in the pipeline.

In terms of good governance, whenever serious questions were raised against ministers in the past, the word 'morality' remained confined to the dictionary. However, the Balen government has attempted to prove itself 'zero-tolerant' on governance issues in less than a month.

In this sequence, Home Minister Sudhan Gurung had to resign on Wednesday. The Prime Minister directed him to clear the way after his business connections with controversial businessman Deepak Bhatta and investments in certain insurance companies came to light.

Home Minister Sudhan Gurung Resigns

Accordingly, Minister Gurung not only announced his resignation via social media but also raised the issue of morality and accountability. He stated, 'If anyone questions this government, which was built on the blood and sacrifice of my 46 brothers and sisters, the answer must be morality.' He emphasized that morality is greater than position and public trust is greater than power.

Previously, within 14 days of taking office, then-Labor Minister Deepak Kumar Sah was also removed from his post. He was removed on the recommendation of RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane after it was determined he made statements outside his jurisdiction and misused his position by appointing his wife as a member of the Health Insurance Board. By cautioning Health Minister Nisha Mehta, who was also involved in this episode, the party has sent a message that there will be 'no compromise on good governance.'

On Chaitra 4, RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane told his MPs, 'It is not the RSP that has won, it is this country that has won; we have to prove it.' The Balen-led government has now placed itself on the anvil to prove exactly that.

The path ahead is not easy for this government, born from the heat and intensity of the Gen-Z movement. It still has to break through the obstacles of old political parties, administrative delays, and the encirclement of interest groups. However, the readiness and 'action' seen in the first month of the government's formation will certainly add enthusiasm to the general public.

Good governance is not just a slogan written on paper; it is a system seen in practice. Therefore, Balen must move forward more effectively according to the citizens' wishes in the coming days. If this honesty is maintained, one will not have to wait for a Sunday to see a smiling Nepal.