Nepal, May 14 -- Even as mayor Balendra Shah was known to be not much of a talker, to have a short fuse, be impulsive, reclusive and reticent. That persona served him well as a do-er, and got him elected to be prime minister.

But 50 days on, the prime minister's disdain for Parliament by walking out during a speech by President Ram Chandra Poudel, disregard for the international community, and indifference to his own party is starting to tarnish his carefully cultivated cult of personality.

The prime minister had arrived at the joint session of the House on Monday, handed over to President Ram Chandra Poudel the government's plans and programs and about half an hour later, strode out of the chamber.

To be sure, loyalists on the socia...