Congress Urges Karnali Province Government Leadership

Surkhet. It has been revealed that the Nepali Congress Karnali Province Committee has urged the parliamentary party to take the leadership of the provincial government. Earlier, on Falgun 30, the provincial committee meeting had decided to instruct the parliamentary party to take the leadership of the provincial government.

Congress Karnali Province Committee President Lalit Jung Shahi also confirmed that a decision has been made regarding taking the leadership of the government.

'My job is to make decisions on behalf of the party. I have drawn the attention of the parliamentary party that it is time for Congress to lead the provincial government in Karnali according to the principle of rotation,' he told Ratopati. 'The parliamentary party will make the remaining decisions.'

However, the Congress Karnali Province Parliamentary Party has not shown any initiative regarding whether to lead the government or not.

Some MPs from Congress are pressuring the leadership to make a quick decision on the government. One MP said that the previous parliamentary party meeting had already assigned the responsibility of discussing this matter with the coalition parties to the party leader Jeevan Bahadur Shahi. However, MPs complain that the party leader Shahi has not been very proactive recently regarding taking the leadership of the government.

Regarding this, Provincial President Shahi says, 'The party leader must be discussing with the coalition partner parties. I have facilitated the decision from the party, respecting the feelings of the friends in the province.'

He said that according to the principle of rotation, it is time for Congress to lead the government. 'Naturally, it is time for Congress to lead the government. Congress joined the government in Saun 2081. In that sense, Yamlal Kandel has been leading the government for a long time,' he said.

According to the then central equation, on Saun 18, 2081, Congress joined the government led by UML parliamentary party leader Kandel with four ministries in Karnali. There is no separate agreement on power sharing in the province. Even if the central equation is taken as a basis, Congress party leader Jeevan Bahadur Shahi should become the Chief Minister of Karnali by March next year.

Even if the elections are held in Mangsir 2084, less than half the time is left. If for any reason the elections are held in Baisakh, the time will be even shorter, according to President Shahi's understanding. 'Therefore, it is the party's desire and belief that Congress should immediately take the leadership of the government,' he said. Even if the government leadership is not taken, there is a strong voice within the party to change the ministers from Congress participating in the government. However, the former Chief Minister Shahi, who is also the party leader, is neither proactive in taking the government leadership nor in changing the ministers. Even though two months have passed since the provincial committee made the decision, he has not taken any steps in this regard.

There is a fear in the current faction (old establishment) that changing the cabinet might give opportunities to leaders of other factions. 'Therefore, this faction seems to be preparing to move forward with the status quo,' he says.

This issue was also discussed in an informal meeting held on Baisakh 21 at the Congress Provincial Office in Birendranagar. The provincial committee team, along with parliamentary party leader Shahi, all four ministers from Congress participating in the government, and some MPs were present at the meeting. According to one leader present at the meeting, party leader Shahi expressed the intention not to rush at this time due to uncertainty within the party and lack of any directive from the center.

The leader also said that the issue of making some changes in the cabinet was discussed if the government leadership is not changed immediately. When ministers were sent from Congress to the government, it was said to be 'one year term each', which has now passed.

Other MPs from Congress are not satisfied with the overall government and the performance of their own ministers. Their conclusion is that the government has completely failed, and in such a situation, there is no point in Congress remaining in the government.

'Ideally, the party should lead the government. Otherwise, if we proceed in the current situation, we must correct past shortcomings and work in a way that the public feels the presence of the government,' said one MP. 'We have suggested amending and revising the conflicting laws and regulations with the center and provinces. We have given suggestions to build a people-oriented government and improve procedures.'

However, MPs complain that the leadership is not listening to them. The party leader Shahi also does not seem to be in favor of changing the ministers.

'Factional politics is dominant here. There is a fear in the leadership that someone they don't like or someone from another faction might become a minister. Otherwise, their performance is not significant enough to justify keeping the current ministers,' said another leader at the provincial level. 'Due to the weak performance of the ministers, the disappointment and frustration of the citizens towards the government and parties have increased. It is time for questions to be raised about the entire system.'

Another leader said that the intention to continue with the same ministers is a strategy to nullify the representation of the current establishment. Congress Karnali Parliamentary Party leader Shahi is considered close to former President Sher Bahadur Deuba and former Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka.

Party leader Shahi had repeatedly warned of leaving the government led by Yamlal Kandel some time ago due to dissatisfaction with its performance. However, now he himself is not proactive in taking the government leadership or changing ministers.