February 10, 2025, Monday
Nepal 1:37:26 pm

Focus on parliament

The Nepal Weekly
January 28, 2025

With winter session of parliament opening on Friday, politicos of all parties with or without representation in it have once again begun to reshape their strategy of doing politics. Since there are special issues facing the nation today and since the government has introduced very important ordinance just prior to the routine commencement of parliamentary session, ruling and opposition parties are heading for the session with special determination. The ruling parties CPN UML and NC are learnt to have asked their MPs to approach deliberations in parliament in a united voice. Opposition parties particularly CPN Maoist Centre and Rastriya Swatantra Party in collaboration with other small parties not in power appear determined to point out the government’s failure and weakness in governance. They have sought clarification from the government about the rationale behind introducing ordinances just at the threshold of the time for parliamentary session. Their question is: how could a government perform its function through ordinance-mentality ? How could a government run when the parties presiding over it seek to escape parliamentarians? Among the ordinances brought about by the government are provisions for making good governance effective and rendering public service delivery smooth and regular. Both are the results of the government’s finding that it has not been able to be effective in real sense. PM Oli is learnt to have queried senior ministers and officials in an official meeting why the government could not do things to make people feel the difference in their performance. The hindrances implementers felt in delivering good governance and public service are learnt to have been addressed by the ordinances. A number of other bills are also in the files of various parliamentary committees. MPs should seek to finalize them for they have a direct impact on the daily lives of people, development works being undertaken in the country and future course of development particularly the way directed by the National Planning Commission in the context of the ongoing Sixteenth Plan (2081-86 BS.). All in parliament should try to make the session lively, responsive to the public need and aspirations and provide a reliable legislative way out for various problems facing the people and the country. Let the session not give people an impression that political parties work just for securing their own party –image and party interest. Let people feel this time that their representatives are not in power- game but are consciously engaged in the legislative task of nation building! Let the session make a difference in the daily lives of ordinary Nepalis !