Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s appointment of a relatively clean and competent cabinet, his efforts to carefully balance India and China, and his unequivocal commitment to dismantle cartels and syndicates of all kinds—he has done much to win public support. Yet common folks and the intelligentsia alike remain skeptical of his intent.

 

“Prime Minister Oli seems to be in a mood to centralize powers, which is antithetical to the spirit of federalism,” says Ujjwal Prasai, a writer.

 

Suman Dahal, a lecturer at Apex College in Old Baneshwor, also sees a troubling pattern in how Oli is governing. “He claims he will bring railways from India and China. He says he will end the reign of syndicates. But how do we know he is not saying these things off the top of his head?”

 

Likewise, former professor of economics at TU and currently a visiting fellow at India’s Observer Research Foundation, Hari Bansh Jha, believes the Oli government has ignored the vital issue of constitution amendment, which means the “Madhesis will continue to harbor a degree of resentment against Kathmandu.” There are other doubters too (see: XYZ).

 

Nepali citizens, it seems, have had enough of hearing so many broken promises from their elected representatives. Oli’s second inning as prime minister will therefore be under constant public scrutiny.

 

True, there was overwhelming support for Oli’s strong stand against India during the blockade, which in turn translated into many votes for his left alliance in the subsequent elections. But having elected him to office, people now want to see substantive changes, in their own lives and in the parlous state of their country. 

 

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