Nepal’s Prime Minister Balen More Regular at Parliament Than Predecessor Prachanda

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balen has been more regular at parliament than his predecessor, Prachanda, according to records from the Federal Parliament Secretariat.

Prachanda, who is now a member of the House of Representatives, has been less frequent in his attendance, with only five appearances in 41 meetings of the parliament.

In contrast, Prime Minister Balen has attended six meetings of the parliament, showing a higher level of commitment to the institution.

Other Leaders’ Attendance

Ravi Lamichhane, the chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has attended only 21 out of 41 meetings of the parliament, despite being the leader of the largest party in the House of Representatives.

Other prominent leaders, including Bhishmaraj Angdembe of the Nepali Congress and Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ of the CPN-UML, have also been less regular in their attendance.

Ministers’ Attendance

Ministers have also been criticized for their low attendance in the parliament. Energy Minister Viraj Bhattarai has attended only seven meetings, while Education Minister Sashmit Pokharel has attended eight meetings.

Other ministers, including Foreign Minister Shishir Khadka and Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamshal, have attended nine meetings each.

Importance of Parliamentary Attendance

Former MP Hridayesh Tripathi emphasized the importance of parliamentary attendance, saying that it reflects a person’s commitment to the institution.

‘A person’s attendance in the parliament shows their level of commitment to the institution,’ he said. ‘Some people use the parliament as a means to achieve their goals, while others are genuinely committed to it.’

Tripathi also pointed out that the parliament is the highest forum for holding the government accountable, and that ministers and the prime minister are expected to be present in the parliament to answer questions and defend their policies.