Kathmandu: Nepal Prime Minister Balendra “Balen” Shah is facing an increasingly difficult political test only five months after taking office, with public frustration, parliamentary pressure and tensions within his own party beginning to challenge the image of a young leader who once appeared to represent a new political era.
Shah became prime minister on March 27 after his Rastriya Swatantra Party secured 182 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives. His victory was widely seen as a dramatic break from Nepal’s traditional political establishment. The former Kathmandu mayor, engineer and rapper had built his reputation as an outsider who promised cleaner government, faster decisions and a new style of politics.
But the enthusiasm surrounding his rise has begun to weaken.
The political pressure has come partly from the same generation that helped create the movement that changed Nepal’s political landscape. Young voters had backed Shah because they were frustrated with corruption, political instability and the repeated failure of established parties to deliver meaningful change. After taking office, however, the new government has faced criticism over its handling of several domestic issues.
One of the most emotional controversies followed the death of 25 year old ride share driver Ganesh Nepali. Nepali reportedly died after setting himself on fire following a dispute connected to traffic enforcement. His death became a symbol for critics who said the government needed to show greater sensitivity toward ordinary workers and people struggling with economic pressures.
Street anger has since continued to raise questions about whether Shah is still connected to the expectations that brought him to power.
Parliament has become another major problem for the prime minister. Shah has been criticised for his limited attendance in the House of Representatives. Reports indicate that he attended only five of the first 39 parliamentary sittings after becoming prime minister. Opposition lawmakers have argued that the head of government must be present in Parliament to answer questions and face scrutiny.
The dispute has now reached an important stage. Shah is scheduled to face lawmakers directly on August 26, with 11 lawmakers having registered questions for him. The session is expected to focus on issues surrounding his government, including concerns over governance and his controversial remarks about the Nepal India border.
Those comments created an additional diplomatic and political headache. Shah said that Nepal had also encroached on Indian territory, a statement that was unusual given Nepal’s traditional position in the long running territorial dispute with India. His remarks angered some lawmakers and created a fresh debate about the government's handling of foreign policy.
The parliamentary confrontation comes at a sensitive moment for Shah because his government still has a huge majority. His immediate problem is therefore not a lack of numbers. It is the growing perception that a government elected on promises of accountability must itself be more willing to accept scrutiny.
There are also signs of unease inside the Rastriya Swatantra Party. The party won an extraordinary electoral mandate, but it is still relatively young and is having to learn how to function as a governing organisation. Questions about internal coordination, leadership and the relationship between Shah and party chairman Rabi Lamichhane have added another layer of uncertainty.
The tension is particularly important because the Rastriya Swatantra Party built much of its appeal by presenting itself as an alternative to the established political parties. Any internal struggle could therefore damage the image of unity and reform that helped the party win such a large majority.
At the same time, Shah's government has not simply failed to act. It has pursued an ambitious reform programme and has moved quickly on several issues. The problem is that speed has also generated controversy. Some decisions have been criticised as heavy handed, while questions about institutional accountability have become increasingly prominent.
The next few weeks could therefore be crucial for Shah.
His appearance before Parliament on August 26 will give him an opportunity to explain his decisions, respond to criticism and demonstrate that he is prepared to work within Nepal's democratic institutions. A strong performance could help him regain some of the political confidence he enjoyed after the election.
A defensive performance, however, could deepen the impression that the government is struggling to adjust from an outsider movement into an effective governing administration.
Shah still has something many new leaders can only dream of: an enormous parliamentary majority and a clear mandate from voters. But the political mood that brought him to power was based on impatience with governments that failed to deliver.
That makes the current situation especially challenging.
The people who demanded change from Nepal's old political system are now demanding results from the new one. Shah's first 150 days have shown that winning the support of a frustrated generation can open the door to power. Keeping that support while running a government may prove considerably harder.