In a video address to the public on the occasion of the completion of the first 100 days of this govern­ment, Prime Minister KP Oli boldly proclaimed: “This government does not work for populism. We become popular by doing good work.” The paradox however is exempli­fied in the accomplishments, or lack thereof, of this administration. Deep down we all know this government is largely founded on populism and it’s still unclear how Oli and his gov­ernment will change the dynamic.

 

To be clear, 100 days are not suffi­cient to really assess the intentions and scope of a government. But a preliminary ground assessment shows plenty of hot air with little or no substantial effort in changing the working style of the Nepali state. Still the public are constantly being fed words of hope and imminent prosperity, which may ring hollow in the face of hopelessness and frus­tration of the realities of everyday life. It is as though drumming the idea of prosperity into the minds of the people would be enough to magically lift the curtain and make ‘prosperity’ materialize.

 

Missing pieces

 

In his address, PM Oli outlined 16 major achievements of the gov­ernment in its first 100 days. It is unheard of in any country, much less in one of the poorest and most cor­rupt, that 16 major feats are achieved in 100 days. But as with most things, KP Oli says these achievements too are a product of his imagination and dreams. The truth is, it is unclear where the administration is headed after its first 100 days.

 

The government received over­whelming public support to stamp out the transport cartel. Everyone in the government proudly talks about how Nepal’s transport syn­dicate has come to an end. How­ever, we are yet to see how this gov­ernment intends to manage public transport, improve its quality and ensure passenger safety. The only tangible change we see is that public transport operators are now forced to register their vehicles under the Company Act. This does not nec­essarily bring about changes in ser­vices. If concrete measures are not taken to actually improve services, there is no meaning in ‘ending the transport syndicate’.

 

Similarly, PM Oli has repeatedly made commitments to eradicate corruption. He says, “I do not indulge in corruption and do not let others indulge in it either. The days of corrupt people are over.” But again the question is: what steps has he taken to tackle corruption?

 

The government’s anti-corruption body remains headless. Oli seems to have no interest in appointing a head for the Commission for the Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA), possibly because it is a position rife with political interests. The way the system cur­rently functions, it is near impos­sible to appoint a credible figure to head the body without compro­mising on political interests, which this government is not ready to do. Instead, the focus has shifted to specific cases of gold smuggling and immigration fraud. Oli under­stands that investigating isolated incidences of smuggling or fraud could make him more popular.

 

Company he keeps

 

Early signs indicate that Oli is uninterested in strengthening the system, which has progres­sively decayed over the past two decades. He has not risen above party interests to build a system that works in the nation’s interest. The prime minister is the sum of the company he keeps, and being sur­rounded by only party cadres with mediocre professional grit means lit­tle is likely to change in the govern­ment’s working style. Party meet­ings continue to be held in Balu­watar and there is a reluctance to engage professionals in supporting the administration, opting instead for loyal party cadres who do not question or analyze critically. This is a practice that goes back to the beginning of the democratic era and has been a core cause behind the disarray in the governing system.

 

No doubt, Oli seems desperate to leave a positive mark during his premiership, but his working style is likely to prove counter-productive in realizing his dream. To deliver results, Oli must first and foremost rise above party interests and estab­lish himself as a national leader working in the national interest.