By Binod Prasad Adhikari
Kathmandu, May 13 — Tensions escalated in Nepal’s House of Representatives as lawmakers staged a walkout to protest Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s continued absence during parliamentary debate on the government’s policy and program.
Harka Raj Rai, chairman of the Shram Sanskriti Party, led the protest on Wednesday, leaving the chamber after insisting the prime minister appear personally to answer questions from MPs. Rai said he would not remain in the assembly until Shah attended, and he departed with other lawmakers who supported his stance.
Opposition members have called for Shah’s resignation, arguing his failure to come to Parliament to respond on the upcoming fiscal year’s policy and program shows disregard for democratic accountability.
The row began after it was announced that Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle would respond on the prime minister’s behalf during scheduled policy discussions. Opposition parties immediately objected, saying tradition and parliamentary norms require the head of government to answer queries directly.
Protesters inside the House chanted and demanded Shah’s presence, accusing him of avoiding the legislature and urging him to step down if he would not face MPs. Critics and parliamentary experts have warned that the prime minister’s absence undermines parliamentary practice and weakens oversight.
Balen Shah, who became prime minister in late March during the Ram Navami festival, has not yet addressed Parliament since taking office. “Today also, I am unable to see honourable Prime Minister in the parliament. He is not present in the deliberation of the plans and policies… I would request the House Speaker to issue a ruling to the Prime Minister to be present in the parliament,” said Niskal Rai of the opposition Nepali Congress.
Leaders from multiple parties — including the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), Nepali Congress, Nepali Communist Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Shram Sanskriti Party — informed Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal they are prepared to jointly obstruct proceedings if Shah stays away.
“While the parliament is deliberating over the plans and policies — the most important topic — where can the Prime Minister be at the time? The plans and policies are to be presented by the head of the government and answer the questions raised over the plans and policies,” remarked Gyan Bahadur Shahi of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.
The controversy has also intensified pressure on the Speaker to uphold the House’s authority. Supporters of the prime minister say Shah is not ill and is able to attend but has chosen not to appear. The situation worsened after Shah left the House midway through President Ram Chandra Poudel’s presentation of the government’s policy and program on Sunday.
Shortly after that departure, political adviser Asim Shah posted that the prime minister was unwell but later deleted the statement. The debate over Shah’s attendance and the broader question of executive accountability in Parliament remain unresolved as opposition parties threaten further obstruction.
(This report is based on a syndicated feed; The Tribune republishes the content as received and does not assume responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.)
