CPN-UML leader and former finance minister Surendra Pandey has advised Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli and ministers to not talk big and let the actions do the talking.
In an interview to Setopati, standing committee member Pandey has warned those in the government of the pitfalls of talking big. "I want to advise my friends in the government and Cabinet—don't speak more, show your works. One who works does not need to talk. People will praise once you do the works," he stated.
He also expressed doubts about completion of the flagship project of PM Oli to operate trains within two years. "It is difficult," Pandey said when asked if it is possible to start operation of trains in two years. "I have also seen the decision-making processes in Nepal--how land is procured, where budget comes from and what legal hurdles there are. It is not easy. I don't know why PM spoke about that. I will ask him some day."
"What I want to tell my friends is—first do the work and then come to the media. You will be in trouble if you come to the media before working," he reiterated.
Pandey also claimed that operating ships, another flagship project of Oli, is not even a national priority. "Ship is not our priority now," he stated. "We have not been able to provide simple transportation service to the people. I guess the minimum and first need of ours is operating big government buses and Sajha buses."
He conceded that the joint election manifesto of the left alliance is very ambitious and added it will be very difficult to fulfill all the promises. "There is nothing that has not been included in our manifesto. It is very difficult from the perspective of financial resources. There are many complexities," he conceded.
"There is problem in mindset on top of that. We may look for money and resources. We can bring in the best minds and work. But the important thing is changing our attitude and mindset," he added.
He also claimed that the reported agreement between UML Chairman Oli and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to make Dahal unanimous chairman of the united party after the general convention in return for Oli serving the full five-year term as PM will not be implemented.
"No one can fully reject election. The practice of two leaders sitting together and deciding to appoint some particular persons as leaders will not work in UML. Nobody inside UML will accept that," he pointed. "Different kinds of leaders have risen in UML due to their dominance, capacity and contribution. We do not have the practice of gifting positions to the leaders."
