New Government, Great Responsibility: National Pride and Public Expectations

# Prem Sagar Poudel

Another important turning point has arrived in Nepal’s political history. A new government is set to be formed under the leadership of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). This is not merely a normal political event of a government being formed under a party’s leadership; this is the result of the Nepali people seeking an alternative different from traditional politics. Now, the time has come for this new government to prove its commitment to the country and the people.

The Nepali people have given traditional parties ample opportunities in elections from the Constituent Assembly until recently. But those parties got entangled in power lust and factionalism. They could not control corruption and sycophantic politics. And they failed to bring tangible improvements in the people’s standard of living. That is the outcome—the RSP-led government today. Now, this government must validate this great trust of the people.

The new government must first prioritize corruption control. This very issue was RSP’s major electoral agenda. Independent bodies must be allowed to work without influencing corruption investigations. Cases of corruption that occurred under political protection must be investigated. Only this can instill in the people the belief that this government is honest.

Nepal’s economy is currently in crisis. The rate of youth emigration is high. Industries are stagnant. The new government must intensify economic diplomacy. Maintaining balanced relations with neighboring friendly nations India and China, it should also take initiatives for investment and trade expansion with third countries. An environment for creating employment within the country must be established, so that youths are not compelled to go abroad.

Nepal is a small country but extremely sensitive from a strategic perspective. The RSP-led government must conduct its foreign policy keeping national pride at the center. Embracing the spirit of the UN Charter and the Non-Aligned Movement, it must be able to make decisions in Nepal’s interest without succumbing to pressure from any power center. Friendship with neighbors, but not subservience.

Government service delivery is still cumbersome and corrupt. Citizens have to run around for months for small tasks. The new government must make service delivery efficient, swift, and transparent by using technology. By developing digital systems, bribery and sycophancy must be ended. Arrangements should be made so that people do not have to come to the government’s door, but the government reaches the people’s doorsteps.

The future of the country is the younger generation. If they cannot be provided with quality education and health services, the country’s development is impossible. The government must allocate budget prioritizing the education and health sectors nationally. By upgrading government schools and hospitals, the monopoly of the private sector must be broken.

It has been over a decade since federalism was implemented in Nepal. But it has not been able to deliver expected results. Duplication seen at the provincial and local levels, expensive structures, and the incompetence of public representatives have spread disappointment among the people. The new government must review federalism and ensure effective distribution of resources and powers.

Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and multi-cultural country. Sometimes ethnic and regional divisions are witnessed here. The new government must adopt a policy of equal treatment to all castes, languages, religions, and regions. National unity and social harmony must be strengthened.

The RSP-led government has become the center of great hope for the Nepali people. There is public expectation that this government will accomplish what traditional parties could not. But running a government is not easy. It requires visionary leadership, honesty, and unwavering commitment to national interest.

The new government must work with the sentiment that it is not just the government of one party, but the government of all Nepali people. It must move forward keeping the country’s sovereignty, national pride, and people’s interest at the center. Let us hope, this government will mark the beginning of a new era in Nepal’s politics, where corruption will end, employment will be created, and Nepal will be able to walk with its head held high in the world.

Author: Prem Sagar Poudel is a senior journalist and international relations analyst from Nepal. He has conducted in-depth studies on Nepal-China relations, the geopolitics of the Himalayan region, and Asian security.