Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
Balen Swarnim duo RSP
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balen Shah will not respond to lawmakers’ questions on the government’s annual policy and programme on Wednesday, despite parliamentary convention that the prime minister typically delivers the official response to debates on the government’s agenda.
The development comes amid growing criticism of Prime Minister Shah, who has remained silent in Parliament and recently faced backlash for leaving the House while President Ram Chandra Paudel was presenting the government’s annual policy and programme earlier this week.
According to the tentative agenda published by the Federal Parliament Secretariat on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shah was initially scheduled to respond to issues raised during discussions on the government’s annual policy and programme. However, senior leaders of the ruling coalition have confirmed that Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Waglé will instead address lawmakers on behalf of the government.
A senior leader from the ruling side said the decision was finalized during an ongoing Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
“Finance Minister Swarnim Waglé will respond to the questions raised during deliberations on the policy and programme,” the leader said, confirming that Prime Minister Shah will not take the floor.
Three separate leaders from the ruling coalition also confirmed that the prime minister would not personally respond to the parliamentary debate. However, none provided a specific explanation for the decision.
The Federal Parliament of Nepal is scheduled to convene at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday. During the meeting, lawmakers are expected to formally begin deliberations on the annual policy and programme presented by President Paudel during the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament on Monday.
The parliamentary agenda also includes discussions on amendments registered by lawmakers regarding the government’s annual policy and programme. Following the debate, the proposed amendments will be tabled for decision, after which the annual policy and programme itself is expected to be endorsed.
The issue has intensified political scrutiny surrounding Prime Minister Shah, who has yet to speak in Parliament since the beginning of the current session. Criticism escalated after he walked out of the parliamentary session on Monday while President Paudel was still reading the annual policy document, an action opposition lawmakers described as contrary to parliamentary decorum.
During Tuesday’s House of Representatives meeting, opposition lawmakers demanded clarification from the government regarding the prime minister’s conduct and continued silence in Parliament.
The latest decision to delegate Wednesday’s response to Finance Minister Waglé is likely to fuel further political debate over the prime minister’s engagement with parliamentary processes and legislative accountability.
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