The first 100 days of any government offer an opportunity to set the tone for the administration’s future. The coalition government led by CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, which completed its honeymoon period on Monday, appears to have squandered this chance to instill hope among the people. Prime Minister Oli's return to the top office followed a well-publicized seven-point agreement that pledged constitutional amendments, economic revival and corruption control. However, what has unfolded has been a disappointing display of failure. The promises of controlling corruption and ensuring good governance were meant to restore political stability, yet the government has done little to address these issues. Instead, scandals involving political figures and inaction on pressing issues that matter to the people have overshadowed the government’s agenda. This has left the government with a choice: act or face the consequences.
One of the most glaring failures of the government has been its response to natural disasters in the last week of September. Despite prior warnings from meteorologists, the government failed to prepare for the heavy rains that caused devastating landslides and floods in various parts of the country, resulting in the loss of more than 220 lives and several billion rupees worth of property. However, the government’s response was disorganized and delayed. The economic promises made by the government, including job creation and foreign investment promotion, have also gone largely unmet. No significant improvements have been made in social sectors like education, healthcare, or controlling inflation, leaving the public to fend for themselves in an increasingly uncertain environment. Another damaging failure of the government has been its inability—or unwillingness—to tackle corruption. Corruption scandals involving influential political figures from within the ruling coalition appear to go uninvestigated, while there are concerns that accountability in parliament remains virtually non-existent. The collusion of ruling parties with business people facing corruption charges has further undermined the government’s moral authority as the country’s anti-graft body remains powerless under political influence.
Honeymoon Over, Get Back to Work!
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This government’s failure to deliver on its promises to the people is not just a matter of public disappointment—it is a serious threat to the country’s political stability, especially when some political forces are trying to undo the political gains made through the people’s movement in 2006. The unmet promises of good governance, economic growth, and anti-corruption measures are pushing public frustration to a boiling point. The lack of action, particularly on issues of social welfare and corruption, is fostering a sense of hopelessness that could soon erupt into political unrest. The first 100 days of the Oli-led government should have been an opportunity to build public trust through decisive action and good governance. Instead, the government has wasted this period on empty promises and political maneuvering. If the government does not begin to deliver on its promises, the mounting frustration could lead to widespread unrest, further weakening the country's already fragile democracy. The government must act before it is too late or prepare to face the consequences as the ground underneath begins to slip away.
