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On 4 March 2024, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal changed his coalition partners, citing lack of cooperation from the Nepali Congress (NC), his key coalition partner at the time. 

He strung together a new coalition, with the support from CPN-UML, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), CPN (Unified Socialist), and Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), and promised to deliver on the missed promises to the nation. It’s been almost two months since the formation of the new alliance, and Prime Minister Dahal has little to show for his promises. 

Already, cracks seem to have appeared in the ruling alliance, with the Unified Socialist refusing to support a common candidate between UML and Maoist for the by-election that is taking place in Ilam-2 on April 27. This refusal has particularly angered the UML, which has fielded Suhang Nembang, son of late UML Vice-chairman Subas Nembang, in Ilam-2. While Prime Minister Dahal’s Maoist party has agreed to support UML in the by-poll, there is still risk of vote-splitting as the Suhang’s candidacy has caused a division within the local UML leaders. In such a scenario, the Unified Socialist’s electoral support to the UML would have been welcome. The Unified Socialist’s decision to field its own candidate in Ilam-2 has certainly not helped ease the rift with its former mother party, UML.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Unified Socialist Madhav Kumar Nepal also seems ill at ease with Prime Minister Dahal. Nepal is apparently resentful of Prime Minister Dahal not taking him into confidence before breaking the alliance with the NC.   

Nepal on Monday expressed doubts regarding the longevity of the latest coalition. He noted that the shifts in ruling coalition in a short period of time have raised a serious suspicion regarding the longevity of the latest alliance.     

“I am not in a position to answer how long this coalition will last. Perhaps Prime Minister Dahal could answer these questions,” he said. 

Nepal’s dissatisfaction with the fellow ruling coalition partners, particularly Maoist and UML, was clear when he said that the current coalition does not seem favorable. 

“We are not feeling comfortable,” he said.  

Earlier, Nepal had threatened to pull out of the coalition after his party was denied the position of chief minister in Sudurpaschim Province. When UML and Maoist Center decided to support Kailash Chaudhary of Nagarik Unmukti Party for the post, Unified Socialist backed Laxman Kishor Chaudhary from the rival faction of Nagarik Unmukti led by Resham Lal Chaudhary. 

Laxman Kishor also had the support from the NC. At the time, Unified Socialist leaders had said that what happened in Sudurpashchim Province was just the beginning and that other provincial governments could also fail. 

Taken aback, the Maoist Center and UML immediately decided to back Dirgha Sodari of Unified Socialist for the position of Sudurpaschim Province chief minister. However, the formation of the Unified Socialist-led government in Sudurpaschim did not defuse the tensions among the coalition partners. Nepal’s recent remarks regarding the Dahal-led government suggest as much. 

“We are not subservient to anyone, and we do not listen to anyone’s threats, intimidation, abuse or insults,” he said recently.  

RSP, another major member in the ruling coalition, is also in a difficult position at the moment. Rabi Lamichhane, the party’s chairman and minister for home affairs, is under pressure to quit the government for his alleged involvement in a fund misappropriation case of a financial cooperative.  

The NC has been obstructing the parliament demanding for a panel to investigate the allegation against Home Minister Lamichhane. If the case against Lamichhane escalates, he is likely to face pressure to take a break till the investigation is over. In that scenario, it is unsure whether the RSP will continue to remain in the government. The Dahal government could slip into a minority. 

Even if Lamichhane does not step down, the RSP could walk out of the coalition if the government fails to deliver on its promises. A large section of the RSP are of the view that it is better for the party to concentrate on the 2027 general election if the current coalition government fails to work effectively.

As of now, the UML has maintained a low-profile in the coalition. The party has pledged steadfast support to Prime Minister Dahal as long as his government works in favor of the country and the people. 

Meanwhile, the NC has been making efforts to improve its relationship with the UML. NC leaders, mainly senior leader Shekhar Koirala faction, is in constant communication with the UML to change the coalition. 

Koirala is proposing that the current electoral system should be changed once NC and UML come together. Regarding the power-sharing arrangement, he has said that Oli can lead the government with the condition that he cedes the power to the NC in the run up to the 2027 elections.

Amid all these coalition infighting and political maneuvering, it appears that Prime Minister Dahal is the only one committed to saving the rickety alliance that he has put together. Nepal’s political landscape is getting more murkier and turbulent with each passing day.

President Ram Chandra Paudel hosted a state banquet in honor of the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is in Kathmandu for a two-day state visit.

On the occasion, different cultural performances were performed.

In the banquet, First Lady Sabita Paudel, Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Speaker Devraj Ghimire and National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal were present.

Chief Justice, Deputy Prime Ministers, former prime ministers, ministers, lawmakers, industrialists and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Earlier today, President Paudel and Emir of the State of Qatar held bilateral talks at the Office of the President in Sheetal Niwas.

Likewise, two countries' delegations are scheduled to hold bilateral meetings on Wednesday.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has requested Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar to help release Nepali student Bipin Joshi, who has gone missing since the attack by Hamas in Israel.

President Paudel made this request during a bilateral meeting held with the Qatari Emir at the President’s Office in Sheetal Niwas earlier this afternoon.

At the cordial invitation of President Paudel, Emir Al Thani of Qatar arrived here this afternoon on a two-day state visit to Nepal.

On the occasion, President Paudel said that Bipin's release was a matter of interest and concern and urged the Emir of Qatar to take initiative for his release, according to Kiran Pokharel, the President's Press Advisor.

In response, the Emir of Qatar said that he had taken some initiative on the matter in the past and that he would take further initiatives in this regard.

Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student in Israel, remains missing following the attack in Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to deepen cooperation between Nepal and Qatar on issues of common interests like saving the earth from climate change impacts, protecting the Himalayas, preserving the sources of water, and maintaining environmental balance.

President Paudel said so at a meeting with the Qatari Emir Al Thani at the Office of the President in Sheetal Niwas earlier today.

The Emir of the State of Qatar arrived in Kathmandu this afternoon on a two-day state visit to Nepal at the invitation of President Paudel.

"The common challenge of today's world is saving the earth from climate change; protecting our Himalayas; preserving the source of water and maintaining the environmental balance. Cooperation of all is imperative in these areas. This is an issue of human existence. I think mostly the developing countries should be more serious in such issues,” President's press advisor Kiran Pokharel quoted President Paudel as saying.

The President also said that the conflict in the Middle East has 'made us worried', Pokharel said. 

Likewise, President Paudel praised the role played by Qatar for peace building and wished for the end to the war and restoration of peace in the Middle East.

On the occasion, the Emir of the State of Qatar Al Thani said the entire world is suffering from climate change impacts, and good results will come and a good environment will be created if all abided by the international agreements on climate change.

He also expressed the confidence that his visit would be fruitful to explore new areas of cooperation by further deepening Nepal-Qatar relations.

Furthermore, the Emir of Qatar praised and expressed appreciation to Nepali migrant workers stating that they have huge contributions to the development of Qatar.

The Emir of Qatar Al Thani viewed that new possibilities could be explored for investments in water resources, agriculture, tourism and other sectors in Nepal.

On the occasion, President Paudel also expressed the confidence that the agreement and memorandum of understanding to be reached on Wednesday would unleash new potentials for investment in the areas such as water resource, agriculture and tourism in Nepal.

Noting that Nepal and Qatar have ever enjoyed cordial bilateral relations, President Paudel clarified that the relations between Nepal and Qatar are bound by the sense of friendship, mutual respect, trust and good will.

There has been a tradition of exchange of high-level visits between the two countries in a regular way which he claimed had played a spectacular role in expanding the bilateral relations.

The historical visit has taken the Nepal-Qatar relations to a new height, he further said.

Noting that Nepal has moved towards the journey of economic development and prosperity now with the agendas of political transformation reaching to a conclusion of late, he expressed his belief that there would be continuous support from Qatar to Nepal's efforts towards attaining development and prosperity.

President Paudel further expressed his optimism that the bilateral cooperation and collaboration would be further deepened in coming days in the context when there are arrays of potential for partnership in trade, tourism and investment areas.

Qatar has been a prime and attractive destination of foreign employment for Nepali workers and Nepali workforce has also substantially contributed in the making of modern Qatar, he recalled.

Expressing happiness over the sustainable development and prosperity of Qatar under the visionary leadership of the Emir, President Paudel lauded his far-reaching thinking and unswerving commitment to make Qatar a highly-developed nation.

On the occasion, the visiting dignitary also signed the visitors' book placed at the Office of the President.