Karnali Government Leadership Change Discussed Amidst Budget Season

Surkhet. The discussion about changing the leadership of the Karnali Province government has officially surfaced. Previously, Congress Karnali Province Parliamentary Party leader Jeevan Bahadur Shahi remained silent, stating there was no circular from the party center regarding the changed circumstances. However, on Monday, after party president Gagan Kumar Thapa and vice-president Bishwaprakash Sharma stated that the government should be reshuffled under Congress leadership, the debate over changing the chief minister formally began.

'According to the central equation at the time, it is now time for Congress to lead the Karnali government,' said President Thapa. Shahi, the parliamentary party leader of the province, was also present at the meeting.

According to the central equation between Congress and UML at the time, UML Parliamentary Party leader Yamlal Kandel has been the Chief Minister since July 081 BS with the support of Congress. As per the agreement between the two parties for a half-half term, Congress Parliamentary Party leader Shahi should have become Chief Minister in March.

However, Shahi did not want to rush to become Chief Minister immediately, considering his own party and the changed political situation in Nepal. Even when the Congress provincial committee and MPs urged him to take the government leadership, Shahi remained silent.

Shahi had previously stated that he had raised the issue with central leaders but was not heard. He also said that it was not appropriate to change the Chief Minister at this time.

Focusing on this context, Ratopati interviewed Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, leader of the Congress Karnali Province Parliamentary Party and former Chief Minister. Here is the edited excerpt of the interview with Shahi:

• The central president of Congress, after coming to Surkhet, said that Congress should now lead the provincial government. When are you becoming the Chief Minister of Karnali?

Leaders spoke and left. I don't know what will happen next. I wasn't there when they spoke. I heard they spoke, but the subsequent speakers are not in contact.

• The budget preparation phase has also begun. Is there a possibility of a change in government leadership at this stage?

Exactly, the budget preparation work has started. I suggested doing this earlier (in March), but they didn't. Now they are talking about it at the very end. The matter of changing the government is not just for Karnali, it might be for all provinces. I don't know what discussions have taken place upstairs.

They might inform me tomorrow or the day after. Since they (Gagan Thapa, Bishwaprakash Sharma) haven't told me anything, I can't say exactly what will happen.

We will also have to consult with UML. The government should have been changed earlier. Now that the budget preparation work has started, it might be more appropriate to do it after the budget is presented! This is not a problem here, but due to the problems of others, they might do it earlier. I don't know exactly what they will do until today. I haven't been told anything about what discussions have taken place at the center.

They might inform me tomorrow or the day after. Since they (Gagan Thapa, Bishwaprakash Sharma) haven't told me anything, I can't say exactly what will happen. I only heard that they spoke at the Karnali provincial meeting the other day. I wasn't there at that time.

• You are understood as a leader who plays politics in your own style, but has your 'decisive image' in the current power equation been overshadowed by the center? How should we understand your silence on the issue of leadership?

No, making a decision is not the only important thing. There should be tangible results after the leadership change. They didn't let it happen on time. My thinking at that time (around July 081 BS) was to cooperate with UML and Maoists, but the situation became different due to the central equation and coordination. It's not always possible to rebel against the central decision.

Our alliance is with UML now. I don't know what UML is discussing either. Earlier, around July 081 BS, Congress-UML formed an equation at the center. They did things in reverse. How much to rebel? You know, most of the work done in Karnali in the last 6-7 months has been done.

Our federalism is in such a state that when it rains in Kathmandu, we have to hold an umbrella here. That's why I said, 'Come on brother, let's make it rain, we'll hold umbrellas.' If I rebel, leaders won't like it, and now the timing also seems wrong, so I'm not that proactive.

The timing wasn't right. Now, immediately, budget preparation has started. I mentioned the budget timeline.

It's not that I don't want to become Chief Minister, but after the leadership changes, the public should feel that 'something good has been done.' In a situation where no work is done, changing only the person is meaningless. If I take over the leadership at the time of budget presentation and cannot deliver results as expected, the question will arise, 'What happened even after Jeevan Shahi came?'

It is more appropriate to ensure a respectful exit for those currently in government rather than removing them disrespectfully. In the past, when I proposed leadership change, I did not receive a positive response from the center. Now, the central budget is coming on Jestha 15th, and the budget ceiling for Karnali has also arrived. Consider how practical an attempt to change the government would be at such a sensitive time.

• Now there is very little time left. Is your point that changing the government now is not appropriate?

The timing wasn't right. Now, immediately, budget preparation has started. I mentioned the budget timeline. Because people have aspirations that after this comes, the budget will be like this, like that. It takes about two months to work out the budget and make plans after becoming Chief Minister.

Now, if someone becomes Chief Minister here and the budget has already been prepared by others, and everything is done, there is no time to remove it.

• Actually, according to the then Congress-UML equation, shouldn't you have become Chief Minister in March? Now, elections will have to be held in Baishakh 084, right?

There was nothing about that time. After taking over the leadership, results can be achieved in 2-3 months. The main thing is that becoming Chief Minister will be problematic now because it is budget time. When new ministers are appointed, their first week is spent on greetings and hospitality.

Now they come to put on garlands, and you can't say 'Why did you come?'. Our main objective should be to provide effective services to the public and build trust in them. We must show some good work from the beginning to overcome the disappointment among the public. That's why I said appropriate time is needed. What was the personal interest? But if the change is going to happen from above, then there is nothing, it's not like I won't take the responsibility of Chief Minister. However, my conscience says that after working, something good must be done, something must be improved. The employees here have also caused problems. It seems like it will take about a month and a half to fix them and do good work. The time to present the policy and program has also come.

Instead of people gossiping that 'What did Jeevan Shahi do by becoming Chief Minister?', it would be better if he brings the budget and then implements it properly and makes improvements. If we talk about personal matters, I am ready even if they make me Chief Minister now, but if it is for the benefit of the province, this 12-15 day period might not be that good.

Rather, in the parliamentary party meeting, all friends had the same voice - Jeevan Shahi is our leader and he should be made Chief Minister soon.

They are also discussing upstairs. If we could have made the decision here, we would have said, 'Leave it.' But we have to take orders from above.

• Even if the government leadership doesn't change, there was widespread discussion about changing Congress ministers, but it is also said that you did not make the decision to change ministers due to the compulsion of accommodating the Gagan Thapa faction within the party. Is there any truth to this?

That is incorrect. What is there to change within the party? We have only 15 MPs. Whoever is appointed, they are all our own friends.

Rather, in the parliamentary party meeting, all friends had the same voice - Jeevan Shahi is our leader and he should be made Chief Minister soon. Regarding appointing ministers, perhaps new people should be given opportunities rather than the current or former friends, with mandatory representation from women and Dalits. Otherwise, they might say only Thakuris have come. Everyone will get their turn.

Based on geography, ministers must also be selected by balancing from the Upper Karnali and Bheri regions. I will get three ministers. I don't have any difficulty in choosing ministers. The main thing is to get good work done. I had asked to move this process forward much earlier, around March. They (Gagan and Bishwa Prakash at the center) said they were discussing. Now, at this point, personal affection and relationships are not enough; the results of the work must also be evident. Here, all 14 friends besides me have supported me, considering me capable. I consider myself fortunate that all our leaders and friends in Karnali Province stand united with one voice.

• What is your assessment of the current government?

What can I say about the government's performance, it's hard to say. If I say something, they might say I am also in the government. The main thing is done by the Chief Minister. But since it is a coalition government, we also have to take responsibility for it. As part of a joint government, I also have a responsibility to fulfill the expectations of the people.

To be honest, we have not been able to do as much good work as the public desires and needs. The main problem is that we are bound by many cumbersome rules, laws, and procedures that we ourselves have created, which prevents us from achieving the desired results.