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Local governments are struggling to implement sustainable development projects, often due to financial constraints or inconsistent budget allocations. These governments at people’s doorsteps are failing to deal with development challenges, raising public concerns about the future of Nepal's fledgling federal system.

While many local governments have opted for short-term, cosmetic projects to appease constituents, Tilottama Municipality in Rupandehi district has taken a different approach. Known for its innovative practices, Tilottama has initiated a strategic long-term planning process for the fiscal year 2023/2024. Breaking from the conventional notion of allocating the available resources in petty projects, the municipal government has categorized its development works into three themes: municipal prioritized projects, municipal pride projects and municipal golden projects. After assessing projects proposed by ward offices, the municipal government included them in the project bank. Projects costing under Rs 10 million were categorized as prioritized projects, between Rs 10 and Rs 50 million as pride projects and those costing above Rs 50 million as golden projects. This aimed at ensuring effective resource allocation while addressing cross-cutting issues such as balanced, sustainable, green, resilient and inclusive development.

The municipality constructed 17 kilometers of internal roads in its 17 wards using modern asphalt concrete technology, naming this project the "One Ward, One Kilometer Road Construction Project". This falls under the theme of municipal prioritized projects. The municipality had often been criticized for focusing its budget on the vicinity of the six-lane Siddhartha Highway. To address this public concern, it decided to develop inner strategic roads in each ward, bridging the rural and urban sectors to boost the local economy.

Additionally, to address the long-standing issues related to maternity and infant health, the municipality came up with the plan to build "Tilottama Maternity and Infant Hospital" as a municipal pride project. Moreover, to tackle the widening gap between private and public education, Tilottama has proposed constructing a minimum of four government school buildings each year. The plan has been categorized under municipal golden projects. This novel initiative has generated widespread public curiosity and support from various sectors of local life.

In a similar vein, the municipality constructed Tilottama National Flag Park to celebrate the national cricket team's achievement of participating in the 2024 Twenty20 Cricket World Cup. A towering national flag was installed in the park to commemorate this national achievement with the hope of fostering national solidarity. The park also boasts a digital screen where all the matches of the Nepali cricket team were broadcast live. The primary objectives of this project were to instill a sense of nationhood in young people seeking their future within the country and to honor the national players, their parents, friends and neighbors who witnessed the performance of the national cricket team alongside their municipal leaders.

Tilottama acknowledges its plans and policies for the current fiscal year as a significant policy departure in various avenues. The municipality developed a new vision for each letter of its name: T for technological advancement, I for innovative ways of doing, L for local leadership development, O for operational simplicity, T for technical expertise, T for typical product enhancement, A for artificial intelligence, M for mobilization of resources, and A for autonomy of works. These themes represent five sectors of local level development: economic, social, infrastructure, forest, environment and disaster management, and good governance and service delivery. In terms of good governance, Tilottama emphasizes transparency, responsiveness, responsibility, accountability, controllability and simplicity of administration. To register public complaints and address them accordingly, the municipality introduced the "Hello Tilottama" hotline last year, focusing on municipal responsiveness to public needs. Additionally, the "Innovative Tilottama" framework has been designed with a special focus on administrative simplicity. Most ward offices and municipal sections run software-based systems to provide timely services to residents effectively and efficiently. The sub-national government is also introducing "Time Card" services for its citizens.

The municipality has beautified Siddhartha Highway, which bisects its land, in an exceptionally decorative manner. The greenery on both sides of the road and the picturesque bougainvillea flowers in the divider entice any traveler passing through the Butwal–Bhairahawa road. During May and June, the area sees an influx of photo-motivated tourists from both Nepal and neighboring states of India. The municipality has added value to this scenic road by constructing a roof truss on the pedestrian crossing bridge, an initiative introduced for the first time in Nepal, and has installed several traffic and high-mast lights across the road. Moreover, a decorative pedestrian bridge made of glass and aluminum is under construction in Manigram - a major economic hub of the municipality.

The sub-national government is also well-known for its community-based practices such as community sanitation and greenery promotion, community health, community education, community forestry and community irrigation. It organizes community sanitation and greenery promotion programs twice a month to sensitize the local community about garbage management and environmental protection. Last year, a mega program was held on the municipality premises to mark the 100th event of a nationally hailed community sanitation and greenery promotion program, with a dream to establish it as a Tilottama civilization.

Local governments across the country have drafted their plans, policies, and programs for the new fiscal year. The Tilottama style of planned development could be insightful to them if they want to establish themselves as learning organizations. Since creativity and learning are the underlying features of transformational leadership, local leaders who demonstrate these values can benefit from Tilottama’s politically and economically grounded local development model.

On March 4, Pushpa Kamal Dahal of CPN (Maoist Center) broke alliance with the Nepali Congress (NC) to form a new governing coalition with the CPN-UML. At the time, many political analysts saw this as a significant step towards left unity and eventual unification of communist parties. While UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli was not particularly enthusiastic, senior leaders from his party the Maoist Center were optimistic about the unification.

It was assumed that both Oli and Dahal had recognized that the split of the erstwhile Nepal Communist Party (NCP) was a mistake, and that the two parties—UML and Maoist Center—should unite again. However, a lack of trust between Oli and Dahal led to the breakup in their alliance this week. The partnership between the two communist parties lasted just four months. This distrust between Oli and Dahal dates back to 2021 when the then NCP dissolved, resulting in the revival of the Maoist party and a split in the UML, with Madhav Kumar Nepal forming a separate party, CPN (Unified Socialist), which continues to collaborate with Dahal. 

On Sunday, with support from the NC, UML leader Oli became the prime minister. This development has significantly reduced, if not entirely closed, the prospects of left unity in the near future. The NC and UML justify their alliance by citing the need to ensure political stability and address the country’s economic issues. This rationale mirrors the left unity in 2018, which had promised political stability and economic development, resonating well with the people and securing nearly two-thirds of the votes for the left parties. The new coalition faces numerous challenges. Firstly, it must maintain internal cohesion to effectively address the country's current problems. Secondly, it needs to revitalize the economy. Additionally, it must tackle issues of good governance and corruption. The coalition has also pledged to amend the constitution but has not provided details on how this complex task will be achieved.

A major challenge for the coalition will come from within their respective parties. Historically, a lack of communication and coordination between the government and the parties has led to government collapses. Therefore, the leadership of both NC and UML must not overlook party dynamics if they wish to maintain the coalition. Oli and Deuba must be particularly careful in managing internal government differences. There have been many past instances of disagreements between the prime minister and ministers from the coalition parties in the past. Policy and appointment disagreements have also strained relations between coalition partners. The new coalition will face similar challenges, and the key question is how Oli and Deuba will manage these differences.

Another challenge arises from internal party dissatisfaction. Leaders like Shekhar Koirala and Gagan Kumar Thapa within the NC are unhappy with the selection of ministers, a common issue since the 1950s. Oli and Deuba must address these internal concerns seriously, as suppressing dissatisfaction will hinder government effectiveness.  The coalition must also address the country’s economic issues. Immediate measures are needed to coordinate efforts between the Ministry of Finance and Nepal Rastra Bank. International financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank are willing to assist, and the government should seize this opportunity.

To prevent the youth exodus abroad, the government must create job opportunities. On the international front, there are challenges in creating a favorable environment for Nepal’s economic development. The recent Investment Summit showed international interest in investing in Nepal, and the new government should build on this momentum. This involves winning the trust of key development partners, including India, China, and the US. However, even before Oli's oath ceremony, some Indian media portrayed him as a 'pro-Chinese' leader, highlighting the complexities in foreign policy among coalition partners.

While there are no fundamental differences between the NC and UML in dealing with major powers, there are visible differences in their priorities and approaches. For example, the NC is hesitant about moving forward with China’s BRI, while UML leaders advocate progress. Although Dahal, Oli, and Deuba all oppose high-interest loans from China, UML leaders have criticized the lack of progress. Similar differences exist in dealing with other countries like the US, the UK, and development partners such as Korea and Australia. Effective foreign policy will require coalition partners to consult with each other.

Frequent changes in the coalition have led to public skepticism about the government’s stability. The coalition must convey a message of stability; otherwise, it will be ineffective. Investors are wary due to frequent coalition changes over the past year and a half. If the UML-NC coalition fails to deliver, there will be no remaining alternatives, as all government formation options have already been tried.

Oli: A sharp-witted and shrewd politician 

KP Sharma Oli, elected as Nepal’s prime minister for the third time, was born on 23 Feb 1952, in Terhathum district of eastern Nepal, as the eldest son of Mohan Prasad and Madhumaya Oli. In 1963, his family moved to Jhapa district, where Oli began his political career. He became a full-time political activist and joined the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) in 1970. That same year, he was arrested under the Public Offense Act for his involvement in the cause of democracy and the establishment of a republican state.

On 22 May 1970, Oli went into hiding to lead the movement as a full-time leader. In 1972, he was nominated as the chief of the Jhapa Movement Organizing Committee. In 1973, he was arrested on various false charges, including subversive acts, and was imprisoned for 14 years, including four years of solitary confinement. During his imprisonment, the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) or CPN (ML) was formed on 26 Dec 1976, and Oli was regarded as a founding leader.

Released from jail in 1987, Oli was assigned responsibilities as a Central Committee member of the CPN (ML) and served as the in-charge of the Lumbini Zone until 1990. In 1990, he became the founding chair of the Democratic National Youth Federation, Nepal (DNYF), a youth wing of the party. The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) or CPN (UML) was founded on 6 Jan 1991, by merging two large communist groups, with Oli as a founding central leader.

In 1991, Oli was elected as a member of the House of Representatives from Jhapa-6 and was re-elected from Jhapa-2 in 1994. He served as the Minister for Home Affairs from 1994 to 1995 in the first popularly elected communist government under Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikari. He held various party positions, including chief of the Central Department of International Affairs and chief of the Central Department of Publicity. From 1999 to 2002, he was the deputy leader of the main opposition party in Parliament.

Oli was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs in the interim government led by Nepali Congress’s Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala from April 2006 to March 2007. Although he lost the election for the Constituent Assembly in 2008, he continued to hold key party positions, including chief of the Central Department of Party School and chief of the Central Department of International Affairs.

In Nov 2013, Oli was elected as a member of the Constituent Assembly from Jhapa-7 and was elected leader of the parliamentary party in 2014. He became the chairman of the UML in July 2014. Oli first served as prime minister from 11 Oct 2015, to 24 July 2016, and again from 15 Feb 2018 to 13 July  2021.

Oli is known for his sharp wits and being a shrewd politician who is never the one to shy away from controversy. He is fond of reading the works of philosophy, political economy, literature, arts and culture. He has also been active in social works and loves to play various sports including table-tennis. 

CPN UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has been appointed the Prime Minister.

President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed UML Chairman Oli as the Prime Minister in accordance with Article 76 (2) of Constitution, according to the President's Press Advisor, Kiran Pokhrel.

Oli was appointed the PM in the backing of the largest political party in The Parliament, Nepali Congress.

UML Chairman Oli and NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba had submitted the signatures of a majority of lawmakers proposing Oli as the new prime minister in the wake of President Paudel's call on staking a claim for PM after the outgoing PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal's failure to secure trust vote in the House of Representatives meeting on Friday.

The President had called to stake a claim for PM with the support of two or more political parties representing in the parliament, giving a deadline till today.

The oath-taking ceremony will be held at 11 am tomorrow.

Most readers tend to love books about books, which is probably why there have been so many of those coming out in recent times. I liked them too. Till it all got a bit much. They feel weirdly the same, with different character names and settings. I can probably read one or two every now and then but I’m not like my friends who scoop these books up the moment they come across one.

I didn’t even read the blurb of ‘The Lonely Hearts Book Club’ by Lucy Gilmore. At that time, I wanted nothing to do with book clubs. However, I recently picked up her second novel ‘The Library of Borrowed Hearts’ as nothing else caught my interest and I needed a new book to read. “Two young lovers. Sixty long years. One bookish mystery worth solving” read the blurb. I thought it would be a lighthearted novel that I could DNF if the story didn’t appeal to me. But I devoured the book in two days. It was such a fabulous plot. It alternates between the present day and the 1960, making it charming and intriguing.

Chloe Sampson works at the library. She’s struggling to make ends meet. She has three younger siblings to look after, since their mother has left them. Then she comes across a rare book at the library when they are in the process of culling old books. Her cranky neighbor—who never gives back her brother’s frisbees when they inevitably land up in his yard—offers to buy it for an exorbitant sum. Chloe is surprised and inspects the book only to find notes scribbled in the margins—between two lovers from back in the day when the book was new.

She can’t resist following the clues and, that way, one book leads to another. Soon, Chloe finds herself wondering what happened to the two lovers who corresponded through books. What does it have to do with her curmudgeon old neighbor? Why has he suddenly become friendly with her siblings? Chloe is looking for answers while also trying to navigate life to the best of her ability. She finds herself in the middle of a lot of real-life drama and heartbreak.

The book can be slotted as romance but there’s a lot more to it. It deals with dysfunctional families and its consequences on children, friendship, and aging. The romance isn’t run-of-the-mill either. There’s a subtlety to it that makes it deep and meaningful. Jasper and Catherine were young but their relationship wasn’t frivolous. They truly cared about each other and were willing to make sacrifices if that meant the other would be happy. The writing is gorgeous with a lot of one-liners and impactful dialogues and passages. Though there is a lot of random advice, none of it comes across as preachy. All of it fits seamlessly into the plot.

The Library of Borrowed Hearts, that is set in two different timelines, is a beautiful story that I wished were longer. Don’t get me wrong, the book wraps up nicely but I wanted to know more about Chloe and her siblings. The story ends on a hopeful note but I would have appreciated an epilogue to find out what happens to Chloe, Jasper, and Catherine in the future. I can imagine it would have been nice to know the author’s version of the story. If I were to confess that I’m going to the bookstore this weekend to buy Gilmore’s The Lonely Hearts Book Club, would that tell you just how much I loved The Library of Borrowed Hearts?

The Library of Borrowed Hearts

Lucy Gilmore

Published: 2024

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Pages: 358, Paperback