The inordinate delay in giving full shape to the cabinet is a cause of great concern for the people across Nepal. The ruling parties have agreed to expand the cabinet in two phases with a few ministers scheduled to join the cabinet by Thursday evening, but this process has been delayed for far too long. It is high time that the government gives full shape to the cabinet and selects ministers who are competent and have the necessary expertise to bail the country out of the impending crisis. It may be noted that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was appointed as Prime Minister on December 25, 2022, with the support of almost all parties in parliament. However, due to the withdrawal of support from some parties, Dahal was under constitutional obligation to take a vote of confidence from the parliament, which he took on March 20. Almost two weeks have already passed since then, but he has not been able to give full shape to his cabinet. This is a worrying sign, especially considering the fact that the prime minister currently holds responsibilities of 16 ministries.
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The protracted delay in appointing ministers has also affected the preparation of the budget for the new fiscal year. The National Planning Commission (NPC) has already given the budget ceiling to each ministry, but with the absence of ministers concerned, the process has not moved forward. This delay has also affected the day-to-day functioning of each ministry, as there is a lack of political leadership to guide them. This inordinate delay has given an impression among people that political parties are only looking for lucrative ministries to consolidate their powers, without considering the people's concerns. For instance, all parties have reportedly staked claim for ministries like home and finance that mobilize more resources than others. This practice needs to stop, especially considering the difficult situation that the country is facing now. The country’s economy has faced a slowdown, affecting economic activities across the country. This is likely to leave more people jobless and affect more households directly and indirectly in the days ahead. Inflation is skyrocketing, making ordinary people difficult even to meet basic livelihoods. The government is not being able to generate revenue even enough to meet its recurrent expenditure. As there are predictions that the year 2023 will be the year of economic recession, it is time for the government to make concerted efforts to address these issues confronting the nation.
But these issues do not seem to have fallen in the government’s priority or have drawn requisite concerns. It appears that they are more interested in securing lucrative ministries to consolidate their powers, rather than addressing the pressing concerns of the people. The process of forming a complete cabinet should have been swift after Prime Minister Dahal was able to secure a vote of confidence for the second time with the support of 10 political parties. But this has not been the case. Needless to say, the prolonged delay is causing significant disruption, affecting the preparation of the budget and hampering the day-to-day functioning of each ministry. Furthermore, it is alarming to see that ministers are not being appointed on the basis of their professional expertise and knowledge, but rather on their closeness with the party's decision-makers. The names being floated in the media for different ministerial positions do not ignite any hopes among people. At a time of crisis, it is imperative that the government selects competent and experienced ministers who can deliver to the people. The current practice of appointing ministers based on political connections must also come to an end. The frustration among the public across the country is palpable, and the delay in forming a complete cabinet risks causing further damage to the current political system itself. It is imperative that political parties take action before it is too late.
