Following the Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s resignation as the 40^th PM, the CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has been announced as the next. i.e. 41^st Prime Minister of Nepal.

Announcing Oli’s appointment, the President Office has issued a statement, wherein, it said Oli’s appointment has been made based on the majority his candidature has won from the parties represented in the House of Representatives.

The Communist Alliance, CPN UML and CPN-MC, has received a comfortable majority in the 275-member House of Representatives in the recently-concluded Nepal General Elections 2017.

Having emerged as the largest political party in the recent elections, Oli-led CPN-UML party has gained all the required support and claimed to form the new Nepali Government in partnership with the CPN-MC party led by Pushpa Kumar Dahal.

This is the second time that Oli is serving as the Nepal PM after October 2015 when he was appointed as the 38^th PM of the country following the promulgation of the new Nepal Constitution in September 2015.

Oli’s appointment, back again to the post, is coming at a time when the country is witnessing a transformation to a Federal form of governance as recommended by the new constitution.

In a move encouraging a healthy political environment in the country, Oli promised to review all the decisions, of national interest, put forth by the earlier government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba.

World Leaders Congratulate Oli

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Oli on his appointment as the new Prime Minister of Nepal and extended government’s possible support for the overall development of Nepal.

Chinese Prime Minister had also congratulated Oli expressing China’s willingness to further strengthening of Sino-Nepal ties.

Congratulating Oli on his appointment as the new Nepal PM, the United States Ambassador to Nepal Alaina B Teplitz tweeted, “We look forward to continuing our work with the new government to build a more democratic, prosperous, and stable Nepal.”

In another message, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina also said, “The citizens’ trust placed in you for the second time demonstrates the high evaluation of your efforts for their welfare. I look forward to closely cooperating with your government for assuring peace and prosperity for the peoples of our region.”

Major Task Ahead

The major tasks ahead for Oli include ensuring stable governance while also maintaining balance in the international relations as Nepal shares borders with the two Asian giants India and China.

Besides, the implementation of new Nepal Constitution is another issue on priority for the new Nepali Government.

Though the Left parties were often referred to as pro-China, Oli’s stance towards governance and policy-making appears balanced with a similar level of cordial relationship with India as well.

This was evident in the recent high-profile visits of Indian officials such as Indian Minister Sushma Swaraj, Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat, among others to Nepal and Indian Prime Minister Narendra’s conversation with Oli over his candidature to the PM post.

“Oli is going to be pragmatic as prime minister to balance India and China,” Editor of a Nepal-based media house reportedly said in a statement.

Dealing with Foreign Policy

Oli-led new Nepali Government has a special focus on strengthening of bilateral ties and diplomatic relations with the neighboring nations based on the independent foreign policy.

“As per the directions made by the Nepali Constitution, we will develop the relation with friendly nations, especially the neighboring countries, international unions and organizations, on the basis of independent foreign policy,” the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and Maoist Centre (CPN-MC) said in a statement on December 17, 2017.

“The Indo-Nepal ties are not just about government-to-government relations, but about people-to-people ties. India will work with any party that comes to power in Kathmandu. Similarly, the Nepal of PM will work with Delhi irrespective of his ideology. India remains a key factor in Nepali politics, society and religion and this fact cannot be ignored,” a Nepal-focused political expert said in a statement earlier this month.

With regard to Indo-Nepal ties, Oli said, “As one of the recently elected people’s representatives and leader of the largest party in the federal parliament, I’m eager to work together with Excellency and your government for the betterment of our two countries.” 

“The election of representatives at all levels of government should set the stage for responsive governance based on the principles of transparency, inclusivity, and rule of law,” the US Department of State Spokesperson Heather Nauert had said in a statement expressing US’ willingness to work in collaboration with the new Government of Nepal.

Constitution, Industrialization and More

Implementation of new Constitution is another matter on priority, on which, Oli said, “Everyone has participated in the elections under the structure envisioned by the constitution and the results are accepted. Its shows, there is no confusion remaining over constitution.”

Industrial development has also been on top of Oli’s developmental agenda under the new governance.

“We should accelerate our pace to the road of political and economic aspects of the country. Our aspirations, needs and plans should base development and prosperity,” Oli had stated earlier at the 37^th Annual General Assembly of the Management Association of Nepal in Kathmandu, earlier this week.

Oli looks at industrialization as the means to boost country’s productivity and job creation.

Legalization of underground money is another item in Oli’s priority list which he feels is utmost important for the country’s overall development.

“Its legalization should be allowed. It should be allowed to be laundered. A way for laundering should be provided. I wish the hidden money could be invested. It could help idle people get employed. Maybe we can think about it?” Oli had said in a statement earlier this month.

Oli was also keen on protection of child and human rights as part of successful governance.

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The elections, slated to be held on November 26 and December 7, 2017, has three major political forces Nepali Congress, Communist Alliance of CPN-UML and CPN-MC and Madhes-based parties in the race.

Wooing voters for the promising elections, all the three parties have already announced their political manifestos for the parliamentary and provincial assembly elections 2017.

Nepali Congress

The ruling Nepali Congress (NC) was the first to announce political manifesto for the country’s legislative elections 2017.

NC released its manifesto on October 31, 2017 amidst the presence of the party president and the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, among other senior leaders.

With major focus on social welfare, economic development and security, NC promised an integrated Social Security Program to ensure universal health insurance coverage, 100 percent high school enrolment for children, contribution-based pension schemes for formal and informal sector personnel, and unemployment allowances.

Besides, the party also pledged reforms in the industrial, agriculture tourism and infrastructure sectors, while highlighting enhancement of bilateral ties with the bordering India and China as part of the country’s foreign policy.

“The Congress party had been leading the struggle against totalitarian regimes since 1950. This time the party wanted to lead the nation towards prosperity,” said Deuba on the occasion.

Left Alliance

In a major political shift in Nepali politics, major communist parties CPN-UML and CPN-MC formed a grand leftist alliance for the upcoming general elections.

Pitching on the need for leftist rule in the country, the communist alliance announced their manifesto for the upcoming elections on November 07, 2017 with poverty alleviation, employment, clean environment and long-term development of the country as their agendas on top priority.

The left alliance pledged on increasing Nepal’s per capita income to USD 5000 within 10 years of forming the government and said their government will have Tarai, Madhes, Hills and Himalayan communities on board.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP)

RPP, called as the royalist political party of Nepal, pitched for consistent focus on Hindu nation status of Nepal, strong local governments, economic liberalism and democracy with constitutional monarchy, in its manifesto for upcoming elections.

As a whole, the manifesto called for socio, political and economic transformation of Nepal within the purview of constitutional and democratic processes, along with reforms in other major areas.

Madhes-based Parties

The Madhes-based parties, Rastriya Janata Party Nepal and Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, announced constitutional amendment as the key agenda of their joint political manifesto for upcoming polls.

The two parties forged alliance in the Province 2 for the provincial and parliamentary elections and have formed a common manifesto.

The parties pitched on the need for developmental programs in line with the agriculture, tourism and water sources.

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Nepal started witnessing major political shifts ahead of the country’s most-awaited provincial and federal elections scheduled for November 26, 2017 and December 7, 2017.

In a major move, the leftist and democratic parties started forming broader alliances bringing in a sudden shift in the Nepali political landscape.

While the two leftist parties CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) and Babu Ram Bhattarai-led Naya Shakti Party-Nepal announced a broader alliance yesterday, immediately a day after, the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) today decided to form another alliance of democratic forces.

In a meeting convened by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and the NC President, NC decided to form a seven-member team as a stronger democratic alliance.

“The parties have reached a consensus on forming an electoral alliance among the democratic and federal forces,” said NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi.

Democratic Vs Leftist

This move by the ruling party is coming after the NC Working Committee concluded the formation of democratic alliance as the only alternative to counter the leftist forces. 

The leftist alliance has also formed a six-point agreement to form a drafting committee to prepare the policy and finish the merger post the elections. 

“Nepali people have aspired for this unity and this unity is the need of the country. We have begun a journey of unification,” said Oli while informing that the new alliance is aiming for two-thirds majority in the upcoming polls.

Meanwhile, in a statement, PM Deuba informed that the government is committed to holding elections as scheduled despite the threats being posed by the left alliance.

The top leaders hailed the ongoing mergers and hoped the new political shifts would could unify other leftist and democratic forces to advocate for a country’s development.

Entrepreneurs Welcome Mergers

Entrepreneurs of the Chitwan region welcomed the merger of leftist parties to form a leftist alliance and called for the alliance of rightist parties.

They hoped such alliances would pave the way for stable government in the country.

 “The recent agreement among the three parties to forge electoral alliance for the upcoming provincial and parliamentary elections would definitely pave the way for a stable government. However, vested interests should not act to bring splits,” says Rajan Gautam, Chair, Chitwan chapter of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

We can attract investments in the industrial sector if there is a majority government, he adds.

Meanwhile, Chair of Ratnanagar chapter of Chambers of Commerce and Industry Rajaram Regmi said the unification has opened opportunities for the entrepreneurs who were tired of offering political donations. “I hope this alliance helps create investment-friendly atmosphere,” Regmi added.

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