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Soon after stepping down from power, CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal has initiated efforts to engage with fringe communist parties, particularly former Maoist leaders, to strengthen his position in national politics.

It has been observed that Dahal tends to reach out to his former Maoist colleagues, who have formed splinter groups, especially after the major split in the Maoist party in 2012 when senior leader Mohan Baidya established a separate party due to serious ideological differences with Dahal. A few months ago, while still in power, Dahal formed the Samajbadi Manch (Socialist Front), a loose coalition of fringe parties within the government. However, this front remained inactive as Dahal did not perceive any immediate threat to his government after aligning with the CPN-UML four months ago. 

On Tuesday, Dahal convened a meeting that included CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Nepal Communist Party, and Samajbadi Forum. Of these, only the Maoist party led by Dahal and the CPN (Unified Socialist) led by Madhav Kumar Nepal have a presence in the national parliament. The Nepal-led party had supported Dahal during his vote of confidence in Parliament on Friday. The meeting of the Socialist Front has labeled the NC-UML coalition as opaque and unnatural. The four parties view the NC and UML’s plans to amend the constitution with suspicion, fearing that these two parties might regress from the progressive provisions of the 2015 constitution. Consequently, the four parties have formed a task force to thoroughly study the policies and activities of the newly-formed coalition.

For the first time in 10 years, the Maoist party finds itself in the opposition bench, a position it last occupied in 2014 when the NC and UML formed an alliance to deliver the constitution. Since then, the Maoist party managed to remain in power despite multiple major and minor splits. After the promulgation of the new constitution in 2015, Dahal’s long-time comrade Baburam Bhattarai left the party to form a separate faction. Bhattarai has been a vocal critic of Dahal, unlike other Maoist splinter groups, which still regard Dahal as their leader.

Despite maintaining moderate strength through electoral alliances with the NC and UML, the Maoist party’s influence is waning. Party leaders fear that contesting elections without alliances could further weaken their position in the national parliament.

Numerous Maoist party leaders and cadres, who were excluded from benefits during Dahal’s tenure, believe it is crucial for Dahal to reflect on his past decade in power and work toward strengthening the party organization. The Maoist party is steadily losing public support and organizational strength. Officially, Dahal will not become the main opposition leader as he lacks the requisite 65 seats. However, as the third-largest party in Parliament, the Maoists remain a significant opposition force, supported by the fourth-largest party, Rastriya Swatantra Party, which holds 21 seats in Parliament, alongside other fringe parties.

Dahal, according to close associates, will strive to consolidate his power by uniting various Maoist factions, although a formal unification is unlikely. The potential unification could be influenced by shared concerns over war-era human rights violations if the NC and UML join forces. Whether the new government will prioritize transitional justice issues remains uncertain, but these issues could serve to unite the Maoist factions. 

Additionally, Dahal may reach out to political outfits advocating identity politics. As the NC and UML aim to amend the constitution to alter the current electoral system, Dahal and other identity-based groups are likely to vehemently oppose any such change. Consequently, Dahal is expected to lead a front that staunchly resists any attempt to amend the constitution.

The government has issued a 73-point guideline for the enforcement of the budget. The guideline is for the directive to all ministries, province and local governments.

The Finance Ministry made public the circular that has aimed at frugality in budget spending and effectiveness.

Authority of budget spending, approval of project and allocation, project handover and enforcement, budget transfer, amendment and reporting, fiscal transparency, accountability, monitoring are the agenda included in the guidelines.

As per the circular, the government bodies which have been allocated the budget for its implementation in partnership, should inform the Finance Ministry and related Comptroller's Office on the share of the budget and expected results.

Similarly, work procedures for budget implementation should be prepared within this month. The work procedure should be updated on the website within a week after its endorsement.

In case of the work procedure requiring long-term liability, approval from the Finance Ministry is made mandatory.

Adoption of two shift work has been recommended for the projects of national priority.

Chief of the project should be elected based on internal competition for the effective enforcement of the project. Criteria should be made to discourage the transfer of employees assigned as chief of the project during the project term. But those failing to score adequate marks in performance evaluation would not be spared.

Any works that are not included in the budget must not be entertained.

Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini informed that the guideline would be useful to meet the liability incurred at the end of the fiscal year.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is seeking a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on July 21, Sunday.

CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Kumar Bartaula said that July 21 has been determined as the date on which Prime Minister Oli will be seeking a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Federal Parliament.

UML Chair KP Sharma Oli was appointed the Prime Minister on July 14 in accordance with Article 76(2) of the Constitution of Nepal.

The UML Parliamentary Party leader Oli became the Prime Minister for the fourth time with the support of the Nepali Congress, the largest party in the House of Representatives.

He is seeking a vote of confidence in accordance with Article 76 (4) of the Constitution which requires that the Prime Minister appointed on the backing of two or more parties should take the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives within 30 days.

A day after assuming the high office, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said his government will work to bring positive results in all walks of national life. PM Oli said the new administration will work to make a noticeable impact on areas such as corruption control, development, construction work and public service delivery.

Speaking during a program that the CPN-UML’s Sindhupalchok district committee had organized at the PM’s official residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday, Oli said his government will focus on “good governance and development, corruption control/elimination and development”.
The government will work to remove difficulties facing the people in relation to public service delivery, he said, requesting all people to be confident that the three sectors—social, development and administration—will work in tandem to serve them. 

The government has taken the losses resulting from floods, landslides and natural disasters seriously, he said, adding that it is making arrangements for the distribution of relief materials.

The newly-formed Cabinet has decided to provide relief to the families of individuals missing for 10 days in natural disasters, including landslides, on a par with aid provided to the families of those deceased in the disasters. 

“Governments keep coming and going. But this change of guard has given rise to new hope and trust. The whole country is hopeful that good governance and development will follow. Also people are hopeful of getting the services and facilities easily,” Oli added.

PM Oli and his Cabinet took the oath of office and secrecy at Sheetal Niwas on Monday after his communist party, the CPN-UML, forged a coalition with the center-left Nepali Congress. This is Oli’s fourth term as PM.