Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre) and convenor of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), stated on Thursday that Prime Minister Balen Shah’s government is not moving in the right direction after completing its first six months in office.
Speaking to media after a joint meeting of his party’s parliamentary committees, Prachanda acknowledged some positive work by the government but accused it of failing to work effectively for public welfare. “While not everything has been positive in these six months, overall, the government is not moving in the right direction,” he said.
Prachanda also highlighted the rising inflation of daily consumables, stating that his party is actively working to educate the public on these issues. He claimed the NCP was the most active in post-disaster response efforts, specifically mentioning the recent floods in Rasuwa District.
Government’s Six-Month Tenure
Prime Minister Balen Shah, who was appointed as Nepal’s 43rd Prime Minister on March 27, 2026, completed his government’s six-month tenure on September 29, 2026. According to details released by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the government has reduced the number of ministries from 22 to 18, implemented a 100-point governance reform agenda, and expanded passport and citizenship services.
Shah assumed the premiership after the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), a political party, secured a majority, winning 182 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives in the elections held on March 5, 2026. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Shah had resigned as the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City on January 18, 2026, to contest the parliamentary elections.
Disaster Response and Economic Concerns
The floods and landslides in Rasuwa District and China’s Kerung region, which began on August 26, 2026, have resulted in significant casualties. As of September 27, 2026, 1,453 bodies have been recovered, with 4,718 people still reported missing. The government is currently in the final stages of amending three acts to legally recognise those missing in the disaster as deceased.
Despite Prachanda’s concerns about rising prices, Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank, noted in its 2025/26 monetary policy that inflation was within expected levels as of mid-July 2026. The official inflation rate for October 2026 has not yet been released by the central bank.
What Lies Ahead
Prachanda hinted at the possibility of “other movements later,” without providing further details on specific plans or timelines. The House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, is scheduled to convene its next meeting on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 11:00 AM.
The specific structure and nature of the “Nepali Communist Party (NCP)” mentioned by Prachanda, particularly its relationship with the CPN (Maoist Centre), remain unclear. Detailed information regarding which government actions Prachanda considered “positive” or other specific criticisms beyond public welfare and inflation has not been provided. The full plan for the “other movements” mentioned by Prachanda is also currently unknown.
