The week that was

This week, Nepal’s two major communist parties—CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center)—held their long-overdue Central Committee (CC) meetings. Both Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli of the UML and Pushpa Kamal Dahal of the Maoist Center share a common trait: they dominate their respective parties, using CC meetings as a formality to project inclusiveness, while key decisions are made unilaterally.

In the UML’s CC meeting, there was no meaningful discussion on pressing issues such as constitutional amendments. Yet, shortly after the meeting, Oli announced that amendments might be possible by 2030. The CC meeting lacked any substantive criticism of Oli’s leadership, with dissenting voices muted or expressed cautiously. This comes on the heels of the party expelling leaders Bhim Rawal, Binda Pandey and Usha Kiran Timalsina for opposing the decision to accept land from a controversial businessman for the party’s office construction. With the Supreme Court validating the land deal, Oli grew more assertive, urging party members to refrain from criticism.

During a party gathering after his China visit, Oli openly admired Xi Jinping’s unchallenged authority and expressed a desire for a similar dynamic in his party, where decisions faced no opposition. After seven months, the UML’s CC meeting was finally convened, but its purpose seemed more symbolic than functional. Critics labeled it a “rubber-stamp CC,” meant only to endorse decisions made by the top leadership without genuine consultation.

The CPN (Maoist Center) is in a comparable state. Chairman Dahal faces some resistance from senior leaders Janardhan Sharma and Barsha Man Pun, both vying to succeed him. However, this rivalry benefits Dahal by keeping them divided. The Maoist CC meeting made populist decisions to placate party members, such as rejecting alliances with the Nepali Congress (NC) and UML, opting instead to collaborate with revolutionary forces. It also pledged to restore the party’s organizational strength. However, as with UML, critical decisions on alliances and governance remain solely at Dahal’s discretion, with the CC expected to comply unquestioningly.

This week also saw a flurry of party activities concerning possible constitutional amendments. The Maoists proposed a directly elected executive head, a fully proportional electoral system, 50 percent female representation in state bodies and other progressive measures. Meanwhile, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) formed a task force under Santosh Pariyar, a former UML cadre, to draft its position on the issue. While RSP leaders, including its Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, are less ideological, Pariyar’s influence could shape the party’s stance. However, Oli downplayed the entire debate, reiterating that constitutional amendments might not occur until 2030. UML insiders suggest that Oli’s reluctance stems from opposition to radical agendas that conflict with his party’s stance, despite amendments being a key promise of the coalition government formed last year.

Inside the NC, preparations for the 15th General Convention are becoming a contentious issue. Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba has remained silent on the timeline, while senior leaders like Shekhar Koirala and Gagan Thapa have already begun campaigning for party leadership. Some party members claim Deuba prefers postponing the convention until after the next national elections, fearing it could exacerbate internal factionalism and weaken the party’s electoral performance in 2027.

Meanwhile, in the Madhes region, discussions among Madhes-based parties about unity, alliances or a loose coalition are gaining traction. Grassroots pressure is mounting for these parties to unite ahead of constitutional amendments and the 2027 elections. However, historical divisions and rivalries make such efforts challenging, leaving the outcome uncertain.

On Tuesday morning, Nepal was jolted by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Tingri, Tibet, roughly 80 kilometers north of Mount Everest. The tremor felt across Nepal, Bhutan and India was the strongest since the devastating 2015 earthquake that claimed over 9,000 lives. This recent quake serves as a stark reminder of Nepal’s vulnerability to seismic activity, underscored by the frequent small-scale tremors in western Nepal in recent months. In 2023, a magnitude-5.7 earthquake in Jajarkot caused fatalities, highlighting the urgent need for preparedness.

Amid these concerns, there was a brief moment of respite as Nepal’s mountains received snowfall this week. While the snowfall offers temporary relief, the rapid melting of glaciers remains alarming. Nepal’s iconic snow-capped peaks are increasingly turning into barren black rocks, a stark indicator of climate change. Though the mountain regions anticipate more snowfall, there is no certainty. Unfortunately, Nepal currently lacks effective measures to address this environmental crisis.