Kathmandu, Sept. 22 -- Eight months after joining the Rastriya Swatantra Party, lawmaker Amresh Kumar Singh says the government faces serious shortcomings in governance, economy, private-sector confidence and foreign relations. Singh, elected from Sarlahi-4, also says the government must maintain a careful balance in its relations with next-door neighbours and address the concerns of people in the Tarai-Madhesh, which he says provided the core electoral support for the ruling party.

Although Singh began his political career with the Nepali Congress, he served one parliamentary term as an independent lawmaker. He joined the RSP shortly before the March 5 election as a strong supporter of Balendra Shah and defeated Congress President Gagan...