KATHMANDU, March 31: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has initiated consultations with lawmakers from across the political spectrum in a bid to better understand provincial and constituency-level needs, signalling an effort to build broader political ownership ahead of the budget.
On Monday, the Prime Minister Shah invited lawmakers elected from Koshi and Karnali provinces to Singha Durbar, seeking province-wise suggestions on priorities to be addressed by mid-July. According to participants, Shah kept his remarks brief and focused largely on listening to lawmakers’ concerns.
Lawmakers from six parties represented in the House of Representatives — the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML, Nepali Communist Party (NCP), Shram Sanskriti Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) — were invited to the discussion.
However, the Shram Sanskriti Party, which secured three seats in Koshi Province, boycotted the meeting. Party chair Harka Sampang had earlier stated that he would not attend closed-door discussions, calling instead for a formal parliamentary session.
Balen–Rabi talks teams engage in internal consultations
The outreach comes as the first meeting of the House of Representatives is convening on April 2. By initiating consultations ahead of the session, Shah plans to bridge political divides and incorporate diverse perspectives into the government’s agenda.
Appointed prime minister on March 27, Shah has begun engaging lawmakers on a province-by-province basis, including those from opposition parties, in what officials describe as an attempt to ensure inclusive governance. “Such interactions were not common in the past. The prime minister represents all, not just his party, so he has sought to listen to everyone,” said a member of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.
According to lawmakers present in the discussion, Prime Minister Shah sought inputs on issues requiring urgent attention, those that could be addressed in the short term, and possible pathways to solutions. Lawmakers briefed him on both provincial challenges and constituency-specific concerns. He asked the lawmakers to identify immediate problems, prioritise them and suggest practical solutions.
Lawmakers from Karnali Province used the platform to highlight long-standing development gaps. Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Basana Thapa pointed to child malnutrition, weak infrastructure, and underdeveloped tourism potential, including sites such as Rara and Shey-Phoksundo.
She also raised issues related to petroleum exploration in Dailekh and hydropower development, noting that the discussion reflected the prime minister’s effort to better understand the province’s challenges. She said that there was a sense that the prime minister was trying to grasp Karnali’s realities and formulate plans accordingly.
NCP lawmaker Mahendra Bahadur Shahi urged the government to adopt province-specific development strategies and revisit the comprehensive plan prepared during his tenure as Karnali chief minister. He also called for setting clear deadlines for long-delayed infrastructure projects and prioritising disaster preparedness ahead of the monsoon.
RPP lawmaker Gyan Bahadur Shahi stressed the need to end imbalances in budget allocation, urging the government to avoid arbitrary and uneven distribution of resources.
Participants said Prime Minister Shah indicated that their suggestions would be incorporated in the upcoming policy and budget decisions, and expressed commitment to implementing feasible recommendations.
