Nepal on Thursday saw a record daily spike in coronavirus cases, just as the total number of infections soared to 98,617. Health facilities have run out of intensive care beds and ventilators. The World Bank has projected the country’s economy to grow just by 0.6 percent this fiscal year, in a stiff challenge to the Oli administration’s unrealistic target of 7 percent. Almost all the economic sectors have been hit hard. Millions of people are expected to be pushed into poverty.

This is the scenario the government is presented with. But the country’s governance has been held hostage by the ongoing internal conflict in the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP).

“The [party] leadership has failed to take any concrete decision, which is affecting both the party and the governance,” said Haribol Gajurel, a Standing Committee member. “The government is already facing criticism from various sections of the society, as it has failed to properly respond to the pandemic.”

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