Amid widespread criticism levelled at Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, his own party’s Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai, who is also the spokesperson for the party, censured him on Thursday, saying that “the Oli-led government was being controlled by fuel mafia”.

“Fuel mafia made inroads into the inner circle of the government in Kathmandu, while supporting the protesters in Madhes to rake in the moolah with such shenanigans,” said Bhattarai while speaking to reporters at a programme organised by Press Chautari in Kakarbhitta. “Black-marketeering of petroleum products and cooking gas is rife, but the government has failed to break the hold of fuel mafia over essential services.”

The allegation from the party’s senior leader comes at a time when the government has backtracked from implementing Nepal Oil Corporation management committee’s decision to take action against NOC Managing Director Gopal Bahadur Khadka for his alleged involvement in black-marketeering and deepening petroleum crisis despite increased fuel supply from India in recent days.

“The government is empowered with unlimited power together with legal and constitutional rights. But it has failed to deliver when it comes public service,” said Bhattarai.

UML leaders have also accused Prime Minister Oli of “unilaterally” running the government, implying that there were no consultations within the party”.

Oli has not called a single central committee meeting after he became the prime minister in October.