Disappointing Roles of Federal, Provincial, and Local Governments in Managing Communal Tensions in Nepal
As communal tensions spread from Sunsari district in Koshi Province to districts in Madhesh Province, Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has urged Madhesh Province Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav to take initiative through a phone call. Thapa stated in a video message on Thursday, “This issue is not solely the responsibility of the federal government; the provincial government also has its duties.” He engaged in dialogues with ward chairpersons who are also elected representatives from various local levels in Sunsari and Madhesh Province. “I told them directly that your role is extremely important at this time. This matter is not only the government’s concern but also the responsibility of all of us and our political parties,” he added.
According to the Congress party, Thapa held discussions again on Friday via a Zoom meeting with the presence of central leaders alongside government representatives from Koshi and Madhesh Provinces, local governments, and party leaders at district and local levels. During the meeting, Thapa said, “We are the main force; we are the guardians. No matter who sets the fire, it is our responsibility to extinguish it and manage the situation.” Amid criticism directed at Prime Minister Balendra Shah ‘Balen’ and the federal government’s role, Thapa sought to raise awareness among party leadership across the villages.
While around two-thirds of the members in the lower house of the federal parliament belong to the Rastriya Swatantra Party (Raswapa), the majority of members in the upper house (National Assembly), as well as in all seven provincial governments, the 550-member parliament, and 753 local government representatives, are from parties other than Raswapa. This indicates, according to some, that provincial and local governments could productively address gaps left by the central government. However, as President Thapa has pointed out, the inability to carry out prearranged tasks necessitated Prime Minister Balen’s direct address. Madhesh Province Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav reported coordinating with security forces to maintain peace and security using minimal force, activating party workers at the district level, and initiating necessary decisions within the provincial government.
“Even though we do not have constitutional authority, we are working because we are the government closest to the people,” he stated. Efforts to contact Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Karki were unsuccessful. Decentralization expert and former National Assembly member Khilmal Devkota noted that provincial and local governments have taken various initiatives from their positions. “Although they have some flaws, they have made active efforts; the biggest problem is the lack of coordination and trust among the three tiers of government, and the prime minister has also failed to coordinate timely,” he said.
