Narendra Kumar Kerung is a member of the House of Representatives elected from Panchthar representing the Nepali Congress. Since the election held on 21st Falgun, 41 sessions of the federal parliament have been conducted, and Kerung has attended every one of them. Media professional Giriraj Banskota spoke with Kerung about his attendance record, parliamentary experience, and recent political activities. Presented here is an edited excerpt of that conversation:
With Prime Minister Balendra Shah attending only six sessions and CPN leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal attending five, you have been present at all 41 meetings. What drives your enthusiasm? The people of Panchthar have entrusted me with a great responsibility, and it is my duty to fulfill it with honesty. The residents of Panchthar have assigned me the role of raising their concerns and the issues affecting the entire country in parliament. Therefore, I endeavor to be present at every session. While missing parliament does not carry the punishment of a teacher sounding a whistle for absence in school, I always feel a sense of fear — voters expect me to work and raise issues concerning public life in the House.
Every question and problem raised by MPs in parliament serves as a learning experience for me. It provides an opportunity to hear voices from all electoral constituencies across the country. That is why issues brought forth by all representatives must be taken seriously and sensitively. Attending parliament offers a chance to understand the country from a close perspective. No parliamentary agenda is less or more important; as a representative, participating in discussions brings a sense of satisfaction and deepens one’s understanding of the nation. You lost your temper once in parliament—how was that experience? That situation arose due to the immediate circumstances; it was not a premeditated act.
Maintaining the dignity and decorum of the House, all MPs from the ruling and opposition sides are equal. Large party members should not belittle members from smaller parties. Once in parliament, all members have equal status. If any large party looks down on a smaller one, it will face strong opposition. After that incident, the ruling party MPs changed their outlook, and the morale of the opposition MPs increased. The perception that “all MPs are equal” became widespread. Therefore, I believe what I did was justified.
