December 2023 Analysis: Federalism
The growing resentment among Chief Ministers of provinces ended with the release of a nine point joint paper for the implementation of federalism. Political parties are divided over the practice of federalism in Nepal. After the UML provincial convention in September 2023, the Nepali Congress held its provincial conference in Lumbini, Gandaki, and Madesh provinces in December.
While Nepal is relatively new to federalism, provinces have been unhappy over the practice of federalism. Following last month’s dissatisfaction over the lack of authority to regulate police forces and civil services, Chief Ministers from all seven provinces have devised a strategy, by presenting a joint memorandum to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Amidst calls for greater provincial autonomy, the group of Chief Ministers demanded control over police forces, ownership over resources, and the right to collect revenue, and urged passage of a long-awaited civil service law. The demands presented are not unique from previous ones.
While such initiatives and pressure could act as a good catalyst for strengthening federalism, it is worth noting that this kind of grievance is not new. In December 2018, Chief Minister and then Prime Minister KP Oli prepared an action plan to implement federalism. Also, the special committee formed for the implementation, study, and monitoring of federalism prepared a report entitled Federalism Implementation Study Report, 2079. This showcases the carelessness of the federal government in addressing the issues and concerns of provinces. The true essence of federalism lies in the full implementation of constitutional rights and powers at all levels (local, provincial, and federal).
Federalism has not been practiced in full swing in Nepal. There are many challenges to the same. Stressing the implementation part, the leaders from the newly formed left-party alliance Socialist Front urged the government to remove legal obstacles to the implementation of federalism.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) on the other hand has been vocal about the abolition of federal structures, and the establishment of a Hindu monarchy. On a similar note, in the political paper released by Rastriya Swatantra Party (RPP), questions have been raised about the structure of the province and proposed alternatives to provincial structures.
The protest against federalism is not new to Nepal, such have been occurring sporadically from groups and parties. On one hand RPP is opposing federalism and on the other hand their recent move is to secure the Speaker's position in the Koshi province. The RSP in its political paper have questioned provincial structure, and not federalism. Federalism which started as an alternative to address the concern of identity and ethnicity in Nepal has become a tool of identity politics by some political parties. The political parties suffer from the conflict between ideological goals and immediate political gains. The stability of Nepal’s federal system depends on how these parties are able to negotiate their differences.
Lately, the Nepali Congress has been holding a provincial conference with the aim of channeling energy among leaders, members, and party workers. The month of December witnessed its provincial conferences in Gandaki, Lumbini, and Madesh provinces. Bishwa Prakash Sharma, General Secretary of Nepali Congress expressed the responsibility of NC and government to empower the provinces in every sphere and fulfill the demands set by provinces. The internal conflict between the leaders was clearly exposed on the public stage. The disagreement over the order of ranking of leaders in Madesh province led to dissatisfaction over leaders. Some blamed a lack of party protocol for such a situation. The conference appealed to every NC member in provinces to abide by institutional conclusions at the provincial level of the Congress as well. In every province, there was the same concern over maintaining the order of dignity of the provincial assembly members aligned with the central officials and protocol to be arranged at every level.
Timeline of major events
| Date | Events |
| December 29th | Hetauda meeting of the Chief Ministers released a nine-point joint paper |
| December 19th - 20th | Nepali Congress Gandaki Province Conference |
| December 21th - 22nd | Nepali Congress Madesh Province Conference |
| December 23rd | Nepali Congress Bagmati Province Conference |
Yet Another Joint Roadmap for Federalism
While Nepal is relatively new to federalism, provinces have been unhappy over the practice of federalism. Following last month’s dissatisfaction over the lack of authority to regulate police forces and civil services, Chief Ministers from all seven provinces have devised a strategy, by presenting a joint memorandum to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Amidst calls for greater provincial autonomy, the group of Chief Ministers demanded control over police forces, ownership over resources, and the right to collect revenue, and urged passage of a long-awaited civil service law. The demands presented are not unique from previous ones.
While such initiatives and pressure could act as a good catalyst for strengthening federalism, it is worth noting that this kind of grievance is not new. In December 2018, Chief Minister and then Prime Minister KP Oli prepared an action plan to implement federalism. Also, the special committee formed for the implementation, study, and monitoring of federalism prepared a report entitled Federalism Implementation Study Report, 2079. This showcases the carelessness of the federal government in addressing the issues and concerns of provinces. The true essence of federalism lies in the full implementation of constitutional rights and powers at all levels (local, provincial, and federal).
Different Voices of Federalism
Federalism has not been practiced in full swing in Nepal. There are many challenges to the same. Stressing the implementation part, the leaders from the newly formed left-party alliance Socialist Front urged the government to remove legal obstacles to the implementation of federalism.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) on the other hand has been vocal about the abolition of federal structures, and the establishment of a Hindu monarchy. On a similar note, in the political paper released by Rastriya Swatantra Party (RPP), questions have been raised about the structure of the province and proposed alternatives to provincial structures.
The protest against federalism is not new to Nepal, such have been occurring sporadically from groups and parties. On one hand RPP is opposing federalism and on the other hand their recent move is to secure the Speaker's position in the Koshi province. The RSP in its political paper have questioned provincial structure, and not federalism. Federalism which started as an alternative to address the concern of identity and ethnicity in Nepal has become a tool of identity politics by some political parties. The political parties suffer from the conflict between ideological goals and immediate political gains. The stability of Nepal’s federal system depends on how these parties are able to negotiate their differences.
Congress Provincial Conference: The Test of Party Strength
Lately, the Nepali Congress has been holding a provincial conference with the aim of channeling energy among leaders, members, and party workers. The month of December witnessed its provincial conferences in Gandaki, Lumbini, and Madesh provinces. Bishwa Prakash Sharma, General Secretary of Nepali Congress expressed the responsibility of NC and government to empower the provinces in every sphere and fulfill the demands set by provinces. The internal conflict between the leaders was clearly exposed on the public stage. The disagreement over the order of ranking of leaders in Madesh province led to dissatisfaction over leaders. Some blamed a lack of party protocol for such a situation. The conference appealed to every NC member in provinces to abide by institutional conclusions at the provincial level of the Congress as well. In every province, there was the same concern over maintaining the order of dignity of the provincial assembly members aligned with the central officials and protocol to be arranged at every level.
CESIF Nepal