When it comes to courting criticism, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has been pretty swift, as even before completing the customary “honeymoon period” of 100 days, he has been inundated with brickbats.

Since Oli became the prime minister on October 11, he has brought down severe animadversion on himself—from the opposition to coalition partners to his own party, the CPN-UML, to media and the general public.

Multiple leaders have said that Oli’s performance on both political and governance fronts have been dismal.

As a political leader, he is seen as a divisive figure. On governance front, he has been accused of blatant misrule to maintain his grip on the power. Splitting ministries and doling out portfolios have done no good to his image.

CPN-UML leaders Pradeep Nepal and Party Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai have publicly criticised Oli, saying his decisions to split ministries would harm the party. “PM Oli’s decisions are unpopular; it has disappointed us,” said a UML leader seeking anonymity.

Oli assumed office at a time of national crisis—protests were at their peak in the Tarai, India had imposed a blockade and thousands of earthquake victims were bracing for deadly winter. There were expectations that the Oli government would move fast to address the multiple crises.

No substantial talks have been held with the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha since Oli came to Singh Durbar.

SLMM leaders say Oli, as head of the government, failed to create an environment of trust to provide a way out to Madhes crisis.

On the governance front, Oli has taken some “unpopular decisions”, inviting criticism from coalition partners, the opposition as well as media.

Just after he took the helm of the government, he was criticised for appointing six deputy prime ministers.

Even UML leaders have come down heavily on PM Oli for splitting ministries without any discussion in the party.

Party’s senior leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal have openly expressed their dissatisfaction at Oli’s unilateral decisions.

Even the Supreme Court sought clarification from the government on Tuesday for expanding the Cabinet.

PM Oli’s Chief Political Adviser Bishnu Rimal, however, defended the move of expanding the Cabinet, saying though it was an unpopular decision it was taken out of compulsion of the government at the time of transition.

 “The largest party NC stated out of the government against a previous agreement. So it was our compulsion to expand the Cabinet as per

the agreement with parties that supported the UML at the time of government formation,” said Rimal, alleging that the media was unnecessarily diverting the key agenda.

The UCPN (Maoist), a key coalition partner, has officially objected to the government decision of splitting ministries.

UCPN (M) Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said his party would not support any wrong decisions taken by the government.

Maoist leaders say Oli systematically split those ministries that were supposed to go to his party as per the power-sharing deal.

Voices in the UCPN (M) are growing stronger that the party should withdraw support for the government “if PM Oli continues to take unilateral decisions”. However, according to leaders, there is no possibility of UCPN (M) withdrawing its support in the immediate future.

Oli has also been enduring slings and arrows for doing little to get blockade lifted.

The NC, which was not satisfied with the government since the initial days, had decided not to obstruct Parliament, saying it would wait till the government completes 100 days.

While addressing the Parliament on Tuesday, Nepali Congress leader Nabindra Raj Joshi said the government has failed to address the plight of earthquake victims.

Though the Oli government has announced that it will distribute Rs 10,000 to quake survivors to buy warm clothes as immediate winter relief, the distribution has not been proper.

Black-marketeering has been thriving in the wake of acute crisis of fuel and load shedding hours have gone up, adding to woes of the general public.

In such a situation, Oli government’s decisions to provide salaries and facilities to former VIPs also have drawn sharp criticism.

The Oli government has also been censured for the snail-paced progress in implementing the new constitution.

Oli was elected prime minister with the support of the UCPN (M), Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) on October 11.

Though there is no immediate threat to the Oli government, PM Oli has been offering ministerial portfolios to fringe parties to bolster his position.