Prime Minister’s Neglect Undermines Traditional Policy Program

Prime Minister Balendra Shah left the joint parliamentary session abruptly after presenting the policy and program document, an act deemed disrespectful by many towards both the document and the institution. The government has introduced a 100-point policy program, which includes preparing a discussion paper on constitutional amendments and initiating a new phase of economic reforms. The program incorporates initiatives to develop the digital economy, enforce zero tolerance against corruption, and promote investment; however, it lacks a clear plan for human resource development. Kathmandu, 29 Baisakh.

Following the rebellion in Bhadra and the elections in Falgun, many had expected the first policy document from Balendra’s government to break historic patterns. Drawn directly from the election manifesto’s 100 points, the government’s policy document also consists of 100 points, but there are no significant agendas for substantive reform. The prime minister’s behavior during the policy presentation was notably different from previous leaders. His abrupt departure from the parliamentary session mid-presentation has been criticized by experts and analysts as an insult not only to parliament and the president but also to one of the government’s most important policy documents.

Most points in the government’s policy document are repetitions of older issues, lacking major transformational content, said Dr. Ramesh Paudel, an associate professor at Tribhuvan University and former member of the National Planning Commission. While contexts differ, the first two items in the new policy document closely relate to announcements made by the previous administration last year. The former government had also declared intentions to amend the constitution and undertake comprehensive economic reforms. In the joint sitting of the Federal Parliament on Monday, President Ramchandra Paudel announced the policy program with the first point committing to prepare a ‘constitutional amendment discussion paper.’ To facilitate this, the government has established a task force working within the current fiscal year to develop the discussion paper on constitutional amendments.