Too Many Leaders, Too Little Work: NC’s Jitjung Basnet Pushes for Major Political Restructuring

Nepali Congress leader Jitjung Basnet has called for a major restructuring of Nepal’s political system, suggesting that the country is burdened with too many officials and an oversized government at all levels. Speaking at the National Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Basnet said it is time to rethink the current structures from the ward level to the federal parliament.

He proposed that each ward should have only three members instead of five — one woman, one Dalit and one general member — arguing that the current number is unnecessary. “Three members are enough. The current five-member system is not practical,” he said.

Basnet also recommended that each provincial government should have no more than five ministers. He emphasized the need to cut down unnecessary posts and streamline governance for better efficiency.

At the federal level, Basnet suggested a change in how the two houses of parliament operate. He said directly elected members should sit in the House of Representatives, while those elected through proportional representation should be placed in the National Assembly instead. He added that even the structure of federal parliament should be reduced.

He also raised the issue of lawmakers’ allowances, saying the perks given to MPs should be reviewed and reduced. “The allowances for MPs from top to bottom should be cut. If not, they should be scrapped altogether,” he stated.

While reaffirming his party's commitment to an inclusive, democratic and republican constitution, Basnet stressed that the system must be made leaner and more effective. “We believe in multi-party democracy. But we must reduce unnecessary structures and move forward,” he said.

In the same speech, Basnet presented his thoughts on the upcoming budget, dividing his priorities and suggestions into 26 points.