Amid growing criticism of the government’s performance, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has claimed that his administration is headed in the right direction for implementing the new constitution and addressing people’s aspirations.

Addressing the CPN-UML’s politburo meeting on Tuesday, party Chairman Oli said the government sailed well despite the Indian blockade and internal hurdles created by the Madhes-based parties.

In a 12-page political report presented to the meeting, Oli listed “balancing Nepal’s relations with India and China” as one of the government’s biggest achievements in six months. “Despite unusual circumstances, the blockage ended,” Politburo member Pradeep Gyawali quoted Oli as saying. “The remaining issues will be resolved soon.”

On the Madhes agitation, Oli said it was the government’s responsibility to resolve the issue. But he did not divulge how it would be addressed. The PM reiterated that any intervention in the matter from the neighbouring countries was unacceptable.

Stating that his visits to India and China had helped balance Nepal’s relations with the two neighbours, Oli said the agendas now would be to strengthen national economy and smoothen fuel supply.

In the report, Oli has expressed his displeasure at the Nepali Congress for not participating in the government in accordance with the ‘gentleman’s agreement’ reached among the parties before the promulgation of the new constitution.

Meanwhile, Oli instructed the party leaders to focus on local polls saying that the government had started its preparations to clear the legal hurdles in holding the long overdue election. The government has been widely criticised for delaying post-earthquake reconstruction and failing to check the black market of petroleum products that flourished during the border trade disruption.

Rival leaders in the party have accused Oli of promoting factionalism in the party and poor governance. The party has failed to give complete shape to its 31 central departments. Following protest from the faction led by senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal over Oli’s decision to appoint members unilaterally, the party has formed a team to resolve the row.

The taskforce headed by General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel includes Secretaries Prithivi Subba Gurung and Gokarna Bista. The panel is tasked with preparing the criteria for picking members for the departments.