Democracy dies with dashboard populism

The Kathmandu Post, as a publication deeply invested in the health of Nepal's democratic institutions, views Prime Minister Balendra Shah's recent actions with profound concern. His penchant for 'dashboard democracy,' a term we use to describe his preference for digital monologues over genuine institutional dialogue, is not merely a stylistic choice but a dangerous precedent.

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The performative pomposity of Prime Minister Balendra Shah is irritatingly perplexing.

Shah's repeated refusal to address Parliament, his mid-session walkout during the President's address, and his delegation of cabinet colleagues to face lawmakers all signal a disturbing disregard for the foundational pillars of our republic. This is not modernization; it is a retreat into a high-tech autocracy, where the messy, vital crucible of parliamentary debate is dismissed in favor of the algorithmically weaponized fervor of a digital constituency.

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Since being elected, how many times has he addressed the Parliament? Nada. How many press conferences has he held? Zilch.

We have seen how 'likes and shares' can render a false sense of legitimacy in the digital durbar, eclipsing the substance of governance. This trend, mirrored globally where algorithms are proving toxic to democracy, reduces conscientious citizens to mere followers and parliamentary proceedings to a mere formality. The Kathmandu Post believes that Nepal's hard-won democratic traditions, forged through past struggles and sacrifices, must be upheld. The current path risks eroding the very foundations of the republic, replacing the thoughtful deliberation of the past with the ephemeral alchemy of viral optics.

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Rather than answering lawmakers’ questions, he deputed a cabinet colleague to face the House.