Ravi Lamichhane and Balen Shah Hold Extensive Discussions on Government Performance and Party Matters

Kathmandu. It has been found that a long discussion was held between the chairman of the ruling party Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Ravi Lamichhane and senior leader and Prime Minister Balen Shah on Saturday as well. Ravi and Balen engaged in a long discussion amidst growing differences between the party and the government.

The very next day, on Sunday, Prime Minister Balen went to Chairman Ravi's residence in Budhanilkantha again at 11 AM. Sources claim that a serious discussion was held for about four hours on Sunday regarding the government's work, growing dissatisfaction in the parliament, streets, and social media, the squatter problem, the completion of the central committee, growing public disappointment, and diplomatic relations.

On Saturday, Ravi and Balen held discussions on the same issue at the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar from 6 PM to 10 PM. Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle was understood to be present in the meeting with Chairman Ravi.

“Ravi and Balen are regularly discussing the matter of party and government operation. The two leaders discussed not only on Sunday but also on Saturday. The day before yesterday, Ravi went to the government residence in Baluwatar with the Finance Minister to meet the Prime Minister. Yesterday, the Prime Minister himself went to Budhanilkantha to meet Ravi. Regular meetings are held. This is the first time a long discussion has taken place after the party unification,” said the source.

रवि–बालेन भेट : आत्मदाह घटनादेखि सुकुमबासी व्यवस्थापनबारे छलफल

Recently, dissatisfaction has been growing within the party regarding the government's working style. In particular, MPs from the ruling party have criticized the government regarding the issue of squatter management. The Prime Minister does not seem satisfied with the role of Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle. It is understood that Ravi is also not satisfied with the performance of ministers such as Health Minister Nisha Mehta, Education Minister Samit Pokharel, Women, Children and Senior Citizens Minister Sita Badi, Tourism Minister Khadakraj Poudel, and Agriculture Minister Gita Chaudhary.

“Because of the Finance Minister, the stock market is in trouble. Swarnim's business partner Gopalprasad Bhatta was appointed as the chairman of the Securities Board. Swarnim tried to favor his own people in a 'conflict of interest' situation. This has also caused problems,” said a close associate of Balen. “Another thing is that the Finance Minister has not focused on capital formation. He only focused on foreign debt. But he could not bring a budget that would create enthusiasm in the economy. Swarnim shows arrogance in his studies. He is entangled in unnecessary work rather than the ministry's work. The Prime Minister is not satisfied with the Finance Minister's working style.”

However, those close to the founder have complained that the Prime Minister has increased unnecessary interference in the ministry's work and that the Prime Minister has met with private sector experts and businessmen bypassing the Finance Minister. Balen had called representatives from the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Confederation of Nepalese Industries, and the Nepal Chamber of Commerce to Singha Durbar, the Prime Minister's Office, on Asar 24. Finance Minister Wagle was absent from that discussion. It is understood that Ravi played a facilitating role after the Finance Minister appeared dissatisfied with the Prime Minister's working style.

It is understood that the issue of changing ministers who appear weak in terms of performance was also discussed in the meeting. However, according to sources from the Prime Minister's secretariat, the cabinet will not be reshuffled immediately.

“Considering that it has been 100 days since the government was formed, a review of whether work has been done according to the agenda or not has been done. But the cabinet will not be reshuffled right now,” said the Prime Minister's secretariat.

Sources from the Prime Minister's secretariat asserted that the Prime Minister has not interfered with anyone with malicious intent. The secretariat added, “The government has not interfered with malicious intent. The ministers in the government are new and lack experience. The secretariat has played a facilitating role in achieving results according to the 100-day agenda. It is not that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is trying to concentrate power under its control for all ministries. Our intention is to empower the respective ministries.”

The Prime Minister's secretariat alleged that issues such as squatter management, nomination of party office bearers and central members, and diplomatic relations are being unnecessarily sensationalized outside.

“The government is moving towards solving the squatter problem. Currently, the screening of squatters is underway. Once the actual squatters are identified, they will be managed in a suitable place. The work of distributing land ownership certificates will also begin,” said the secretariat. “The issue of non-cooperation in the nomination of office bearers and central members is false. The Prime Minister had previously said that the party chairman should run the party, and I will run the government. It is not that the list for nomination was not provided, leading to non-cooperation.”

In the discussion, Ravi drew the Prime Minister's attention to this matter. It is understood that the Prime Minister expressed his displeasure over the opposition from ruling party MPs regarding the government's work.

Ravi is also understood to have inquired about issues such as the recent activation of TOB in a way that startled neighboring China, the government's approval to celebrate the birthday of the exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama, and the Prime Minister's secretariat's interference in the MRP case.

RSP General Secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya claimed that the discussion between the two top leaders after the general convention has been exaggerated outside. He argued that it should not be concluded that a government that received a mandate to work for five years could not work in three months.

“As a party that received a public mandate close to two-thirds, high expectations are natural. But it is not yet time to conclude that a government with a five-year mandate could not do anything in three months. As both are senior leaders, it is natural to have regular discussions about party and government operations,” Acharya told RatoPati on Monday morning. “If there is no dialogue between the leaders, problems will arise. What is being publicized outside has not happened. Discussions are being held cordially between the chairman and the prime minister.”

Acharya asserted that there is no dispute or distance regarding the operation of the party and the government.

“There is neither a problem nor an increased distance in the discussions between the chairman and the prime minister. The party and the government will be operated according to the mutual understanding of the two leaders,” he said.