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Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that the CPN-UML should become the decisive force in the 2027 election. Speaking at a program organized by the Madan Bhandari Foundation on Saturday, she expressed her best wishes for the UML to secure all positions including President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chairperson of the National Assembly after the 2027 election.

Bhandari was serving as the Vice-chairperson of CPN-UML when she was elected as the President following the 2017 polls. “I sincerely hope that UML becomes the national decisive force in the country from the upcoming election. Please make it happen,” she said. “Strengthen the country’s economy by securing all important positions. This is also my best wish on the occasion of the silver jubilee of the Madan Bhandari Foundation.”

Bhandari also said UML should now produce another President. “Until UML produces another President, I have to continue being the chief guest at social forums. Besides me, other leaders have also reached important positions from UML,” she said. “But people seek me out for social forums.”

Bhandari requested UML to produce another President. “After that, I’ll be free from this duty,” she added.

The ruling CPN-UML, which has decided to contest the next election independently, has unveiled a roadmap aimed at solidifying its position as a dominant political force. Following the 2022 national elections, where the party emerged as the second-largest political force, it launched the “Mission 2084” campaign, focused on strengthening the party for the next national elections that will take place in 2027. Even after returning to power in July, the party has maintained its focus on internal organization and strategic planning.

Senior UML leaders identify two primary challenges ahead: the potential alliance between the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN (Maoist Center) and the rise of new political parties and independent leaders. Additionally, they note that youth, once a core constituency, are increasingly shifting their support to emerging political forces. In response, the UML leadership has directed all party committees to develop policies and programs aligned with Mission 2084, with a particular emphasis on reactivating all party structures to attract younger voters. As part of this initiative, the party has decided to organize a youth summit to introduce its policies and programs to the next generation.

The UML is also pursuing a strategy to attract cadres and leaders from the CPN (Unified Socialist) and the Maoist Center, while deprioritizing unification with smaller communist parties. The party’s emphasis is on strengthening its ranks by drawing in members from rival groups rather than forming alliances. To mobilize youth effectively, UML will utilize its party structures and organize more initiatives like the youth summit to re-engage the younger demographic. Like other parties, the UML faces internal disputes in several districts, and to address this, it has formed a special panel to resolve conflicts and minimize divisions within the party. During the 2022 elections, internal disputes contributed to losses in several constituencies—a situation the party is determined to avoid in the upcoming elections.

Since becoming party chairperson in 2014, KP Sharma Oli has largely succeeded in preventing the rise of powerful factions within the UML. His key rival, Madhav Kumar Nepal, left the party in 2021 to form a separate group, and Bhim Rawal, who was once a vocal critic of the party’s leadership and contested for the post of party chairperson, has now been stripped of major responsibilities within the UML. Despite these internal challenges, the UML remains committed to improving government and parliamentary performance. Two months into the Oli-led government, however, criticism has already surfaced regarding its effectiveness. To counter this, the party has decided to leverage social media more actively, recognizing that younger parties are capitalizing on its growing influence, while the UML still relies heavily on traditional publicity methods.

Under an agreement with the Nepali Congress (NC), Prime Minister Oli is set to hand over leadership to NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba. Once the transition occurs, UML leaders plan to fully concentrate on the 2027 elections. According to them, the NC and UML have agreed not to form an electoral alliance with the Maoist Center, although concerns remain that the NC could align with the Maoists ahead of the polls. UML leaders are confident, however, that if the three major parties—NC, UML, and the Maoist Center—compete separately, UML is poised to emerge as the largest party, owing to its robust organizational structure.

Speaking at a recent public event, Oli expressed optimism that the UML could secure a majority in the 2027 elections, noting that the Maoist Center has been steadily losing voter support and may struggle to maintain its status as a national party. The key competition, he said, is between the NC and UML, with all three communist factions—UML, CPN (Unified Socialist), and the Maoist Center—sharing a similar voter base.

Moreover, the rise of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in the 2022 elections has posed a significant threat to both the UML and NC. Many voters from both parties supported RSP candidates as a protest against their respective leaderships. This trend is a growing concern for the established parties, as they seek to curb the rise of new political forces like the RSP and independent figures such as Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, who have captured the youth vote. The emergence of new political parties signals a gradual decline in support for traditional parties, even though they remain the largest in terms of overall representation. Now, all political parties are working to revamp their organizations, with the 2027 elections in sight.

This week, the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML coalition formed a task force to develop the government’s common minimum program (CMP), a positive step, though albeit delayed. Once the CMP is finalized, it will provide a clear direction for the coalition government, serving as a guiding document for ministers across party lines, many of whom are currently unclear about their priorities. The CMP could also help reduce growing tensions between the NC and UML.

The two parties also agreed to begin discussions with stakeholders on constitutional amendments. Amending the 2015 Constitution, which was promulgated amid violence in the Madhes region, remains a sensitive political issue, drawing both internal and external attention. The Madhes-based parties are also preparing to clarify their stance on the amendments. According to NC General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa, one of the CMP’s key elements will be the constitutional amendment, which aims to strengthen federalism, inclusive democracy, and proportional representation.

How the constitution amendment process will unfold in the run up to the 2027 national elections remains uncertain. NC and UML appear to be seeking changes to certain provisions, including the electoral system, which is likely to lead to strong opposition from progressive forces. Managing these issues will be challenging. 

As major parties gear up for constitutional amendments, the royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is preparing street protests, demanding the restoration of the monarchy and Nepal as a Hindu state. RPP Chairperson Rajendra Lingden also met with former King Gyanendra Shah this week. 

In another story this week, the newly-appointed Chief of Army Staff,  Ashok Raj Sigdel, outlined his priorities, focusing on national security, military diplomacy, internal reforms within the Nepali Army, and addressing delays in major infrastructure projects like the Kathmandu-Tarai Fast-Track.

Also this week, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane, who is under scrutiny for his alleged involvement in a fund embezzlement of a financial cooperative, admitted for the first time that media outlets, including his own Gorkha Media, misused the funds. Lamichhane also faced protests from embezzlement victims in Pokhara. Earlier, the RSP leader and former Home Minister was questioned for several hours by a parliamentary committee investigating his involvement in the cooperative scam. 

It is said Lamichhane has sought protection from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli against potential legal actions. 

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress leader Dhanraj Gurung has also been implicated in the cooperative scandal. He has expressed his willingness to face a parliamentary inquiry.

This week, NC, UML, and the Maoist party showed a rare unity to challenge Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s decision to extend the no-construction zone along riverbanks by an additional 20 meters. Prime Minister Oli has called for a review of the Supreme Court’s decision, reigniting his ongoing dispute with Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah.

CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal continued to garner attention this week, as he is on a tour of the country, aiming to strengthen the party’s organizational base. Dahal is under pressure to solidify his party’s position after NC and UML opted not to form a pre-election alliance. He has also cautioned NC and UML against constitutional amendments that could undo “progressive agendas” enshrined in the 2015 Constitution.

Talks about the Nepal-India Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) report resurfaced in national politics this week, with Prime Minister Oli once again urging Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to receive it. Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai also raised the issue. 

Another significant political development this week concerned Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Indira Rana Magar, who could face impeachment for allegedly misusing her letterhead to request the US Embassy in Kathmandu to arrange visa interview dates for individuals not associated with her office. The ruling NC and UML are preparing to impeach Rana Magar. Rana Magar’s party, RSP, along with the Maoist Center and CPN (Unified Socialist), are expected to oppose the impeachment effort.

The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly kicked off in New York this week, with the resolution of conflicts as one of its main priorities. Prime Minister Oli is preparing to attend the assembly, marking his first international trip since assuming office. Oli, who will be accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba, is expected to lay out Nepal’s position on regional and international issues during his address to the UN. The prime minister is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with various world leaders, including his Indian counterpart Modi, on the margins of the UN meeting.  

Bipul Pokhrel, the president of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), resigned this week, just ahead of the federation’s planned elections. The FNJ has long been grappling with internal disputes over membership distribution. Pokhrel’s resignation has added to the conflict and uncertainty within the federation.

Also this week, Deputy Prime Ministers and other ministers signed a performance agreement with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli outlining key tasks and goals for the current fiscal year. The agreement was signed and exchanged during a program held on Thursday at the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar. A similar agreement was also signed between the Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal.

The performance agreement aims to support the national vision of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’ by ensuring timely completion of infrastructure projects and improvements in service delivery. However, while such agreements are routinely signed by new prime ministers, their implementation often falters due to frequent changes in ministers and the transfer of secretaries.

A key point in the seven-point agreement signed by Nepal’s two largest political parties, Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML, in early July is amendments to the Constitution. However, almost two months after forming a powerful coalition, no specific details have emerged about the proposed amendments.

Both domestic and international observers are eager to know what changes NC and UML intend to make to the 2015 Constitution. It’s also unclear whether the two parties are fully aligned on the amendments. Neither NC nor UML has begun internal discussions on the specifics of the amendment. The issue of constitutional amendment carries different meanings for various political groups. The CPN (Maoist Center), which was ousted from power, has accused NC and UML of attempting to roll back the constitution's progressive provisions.

Maoist leaders, including Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, frequently claim that NC and UML want to weaken progressive elements of the Constitution. For royalist parties like Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), constitutional amendment means removing the constitutional monarchy and reestablishing Nepal as a Hindu state. On the other hand, for the Maoists, amendment is about granting more rights to marginalized communities. It is up to NC and UML to initiate discussions on potential changes, though recent remarks by senior leaders hint that one major focus could be the electoral system.

Senior leaders of both NC and UML argue that the current electoral system—combining first-past-the-post (FPTP) and proportional representation (PR)—contributes to political instability, as it makes it difficult for any one party to secure a majority. However, this proposal faces opposition from Maoist, Madhesi, and smaller parties, who see any changes to the electoral system as undermining the country’s inclusive political framework. Major parties are pushing for raising the electoral threshold to limit the number of smaller parties in Parliament, while small parties argue this is a move toward a two-party system.

Currently, only the parties securing a minimum of three percent in the House of Representatives and 1.5 percent in the provincial assembly of the total valid votes under the PR category are allocated PR seats. Parties that have seats both in FPTP and PR seats are eligible to become the national party.

In the 2022 national elections, only a few parties, including NC, UML, the Maoists, and newer parties like Rastriya Swatantra Party and Janamat Party, managed to cross the three percent vote threshold required to secure PR seats. Many smaller parties, such as CPN (Unified Socialist) led by former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, failed to meet the threshold and could not get the national party status.

There are also rumors that NC and UML want to remove secularism from the Constitution, but the parties have remained silent on the issue. Voices within NC are calling for the party to support the reinstatement of Nepal as a Hindu state through constitutional amendment. However, amending the Constitution is a complex issue. Once initiated, all political forces will likely push for their own agendas, making consensus difficult.

NC Chief Whip Shyam Ghimire emphasized the need for a common consensus among political parties. Madhes-based parties, like the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) led by Mahantha Thakur, are closely monitoring the constitutional amendment process. LSP has formed a three-member committee under Laxman Lal Karna to consult with other parties on constitutional changes that address Madhesi issues. The committee has been tasked with the responsibility of preparing a comprehensive report on the Madhes issues they want to address by amending the Constitution.

The ruling coalition has agreed to hold all-party discussions on constitutional amendments. In a meeting on Monday, ruling party leaders, including those from NC and UML, stressed the need to amend the constitution in a way that gains broad consensus among all political parties. According to leaders, top leaders of the ruling parties are of the view that the Constitution should be amended to make it more refined and universally acceptable. Besides NC and UML, the ruling coalition also consists of Janata Samajbadi Party and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party. 

UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula said that at Monday’s meeting, the parties agreed that there should be comprehensive discussions to amend the constitution. Opposition parties, especially the Maoist Center, have been accusing the NC and UML of trying to revert to the 1990 constitution through constitutional amendments. NC Chief Whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire said that the parties in the ruling coalition will push for maximum consensus from parties and stakeholders for the constitutional amendment. 

A two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly is needed to amend the Constitution. This means the ruling coalition needs to secure the support of at least 184 lawmakers in the 275-members House of Representatives. NC and UML have a combined 167 lawmakers. UML lawmaker Top Bahadur Rayamajhi is suspended, while Speaker Devraj Ghimire, who is from UML, can only vote in case of a tie. This means NC and UML need the support of 18 more lawmakers.

They plan to seek support from parties like Rastriya Prajatantra Party (14),  Janamat Party (6), Janata Samajbadi Party (5), Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (4) and Nagarik Unmukti Party (4), among others. Although the coalition looks comfortable in the lower house, the equation is not so favorable in the National Assembly. The UML-NC coalition needs the support of at least 40 members in the 59-members upper house. CPN (Maoist Center) is the largest party in the National Assembly with 17 seats, while NC and UML have 16 and 10 seats, respectively.  NC and UML need the support of 14 other lawmakers for any amendment to the constitution to pass through the upper house. Likewise, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba also called for unity among ruling parties.

CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has said that the alliance between the two largest parties in the Parliament was formed to end the national crisis existing in the country.

Talking to media persons at Surkhet airport today, General-Secretary Pokharel mentioned that the political equation between the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress was made with an objective of safeguarding the nation from crisis. 

"The main objective of the power equation is to take the country's democracy towards the right path, reviewing constitutional legal practices and establishing stability in the country by making necessary amendments to the Constitution", he opined.

Stating that the country's economy has started being dynamic after the formation of the incumbent government, the UML leader shared that an arrangement has been made to provide loan without collateral for start-up projects in order to create employment in the country.

The UML GeneralSecretary clarified that the CPN-UML would contest in the coming elections alone.

He urged the CPN (Maoist Center) to play a role of responsible opposition in the parliament.

Saying that they are trying to make necessary amendment to the Constitution in order to give stability to the nation, he underlined that they would move ahead taking all political parties together for the same.

The CPN-UML has appointed new province in-charges in all the seven provinces.

A Secretariat meeting held on Thursday decided to appoint new in-charges in all the seven provinces, General Secretary Shankar Pokharel informed.

According to him, Sherdhan Rai has been appointed as the in-charge of Koshi Province, Lilanath Shrestha as in-charge of Madesh Province and Rajan Bhattarai as in-charge of Bagmati Province.

Similarly, Kiran Gurung has been appointed as the in-charge of Gandaki Province, Padma Aryal as in-charge of Lumbini Province, Gorakh Bahadur Bogati as in-charge of Karnali Province and Lekhraj Bhatta as in-charge of Sudurpaschim Province, Pokharal informed.

Earlier, Aryal was the in-charge of Lumbini Province and Bhatta as in-charge of Sudurpaschim Province.

New in-charges were appointed in the remaining provinces.

The meeting nominated 17 central members.

Guru Baral has been nominated as the Vice Chairman of the CPN-UML.

A Secretariat meeting held on Thursday nominated Standing Committee member Baral for the vacant post of Vice Chairman, General Secretary Shankar Pokharal informed.

Similarly, the meeting has nominated two persons as the Standing Committee members.

Mukunda Neupane and Lilanath Shrestha of Madhes Province have been chosen  as Standing Committee members.

Likewise, the UML has nominated 17 people as central members.

The meeting nominated Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula among 17 as the central members.

Nepali Congress (NC) President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the NC and the CPN-UML, the two major political parties, aspire for a stable and strong government.

Backing a proposal put forth by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in the House of Representatives (HoR) session, seeking a vote of confidence, Deuba said the formation of the present government aims to promote stability, achieve rapid economic development, create jobs, and accelerate physical infrastructure development. The proposal was presented in accordance with Article 76 (4) of the Constitution.

It may be noted that the NC and UML formed a new political equation recently, leading to the formation of the government led by UML Chair Oli last Sunday.

According to the NC President, the constitution's amendment is a usual procedure in democracy and the consensus of all parties will be sought provided that the constitution is amended ahead. 

"It has been eight years since the promulgation of the Constitution. It is a usual process to amend the country's main law in democracy if it is warranted to strengthen the constitution. We are clear that it will be appropriate to proceed with the amendment through the wider dialogues and consensus at the political parties."   

He hoped that the new government would be able to accelerate economic activities and establish a durable peace by dispelling economic slowdown. "It will give priority to creating job opportunities within the country, scaling up revenue collections, and meeting the people's aspirations for development."

 Underlining the need for steering the nation towards good governance by preventing corruption, the NC President pledged to promote the rule of the law, full enforcement of the constitution, build an investment atmosphere, increase domestic production, and create jobs.

Terming Prime Minister Oli as a hardworking, studious, and experienced leader, he said the members of his cabinet are also competent. "I hope under the guidance of the Oli-led government, the nation will find a path to prosperity. The government formed to take the country towards political stability will succeed in its mission. "   

He said the NC is fully committed and will remain so regarding the implementation of the July 1 seven-point agreement reached with the UML.  He said the party would give a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Oli, urging other political parties in the parliament to support the Prime Minister.

The CPN-UML has said that President Ram Chandra Paudel should initiate the government formation process as per Article 76(2) of the Constitution after the incumbent Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “loses the crucial floor test” in the Parliament on July 12.

A meeting of the party’s Secretariat meeting has taken such a decision. After the meeting, UML leader Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said: “There are no constitutional and legal ambiguities regarding the government formation process, there are precedents vis-a-vis government formation as per Article 76(2) of the constitution.” 

Furthermore, he said the NC and the UML will participate in the government on an equal basis.

It should be noted that NC and UML, the largest and the second largest party in the Parliament, have agreed to form a national unity government to address burning issues facing the country. 

Against this backdrop, the UML meeting has decided to strive for bringing in “more and more parties” in the government. While addressing the party meeting, party Chairperson KP Sharma Oli said there has not been any concrete agreement with the NC about forming a commission for suggesting ways to form the next government.

According to the UML chair, there has been a principled position on constitution amendment but no discussion has taken place (between the two parties) on specific issues concerning the amendment. Oli accused ‘some forces’ of trying to create confusion about the NC-UML agreement.

We have realized that some provisions in the Constitution should be amended in keeping with changing times, he said. Oli is of the view that Prime Minister Dahal, at the helm of a minority government after the UML’s recent withdrawal, is still working to prevent UML from forming the next government by refusing to step down.

The NC and UML have agreed to form a national unity government but the text of the agreement has not been made public yet. As things stand, Oli is supposed to become the PM in the first phase and then hand over power to Deuba for the remaining term. PM Dahal is seeking a vote of confidence on Friday amid speculations that odds are stacked against him.  

Meanwhile, the UML has issued a whip to all its members in the House of Representatives (HoR) to mandatorily attend a session of the lower house scheduled for July 12 and to vote against PM Dahal.

The CPN-UML has issued a whip to all its members in the House of Representatives (HoR) to mandatorily attend a session of the lower house scheduled for July 12 and to vote against Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to seek a vote of confidence in the HoR session on July 12.

He decided to seek a confidence vote after major ruling partner UML withdrew its support to the government following the recent agreement with the Nepali Congress to form a new government.

The whip was issued by party's Chief Whip Mahesh Kumar Bartaula.

The CPN-UML has quit the Bagmati Province government. 

All the five ministers, who were representing the party in the provincial council of ministers, submitted their resignation to Chief Minister Shalikram Jamkattel.

Those resigning from their posts are Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Jagannath Thapaliya, Minister for Forests and Environment Keshav Prasad Pokhrel, Minister for Water Supply, Energy and Irrigation Eklal Shrestha, Minister for Health Rameshwar Shrestha and Minister for Industry, Commerce and Land Administration Prakash Shrestha.

The UML ministers resigned from their posts after an agreement was reached between the UML and the Nepali Congress to form a national consensus government.

The CPN-UML has concluded that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal should resign immediately.

A Parliamentary Party meeting held at the New Baneshwor-based Lhotse Hall prior to the Parliament meeting concluded that the Prime Minister should pave the way for forming a national consensus government by putting in his papers immediately.

The UML said that the Prime Minister, who fell into minority, should step down immediately, claiming that it would be unfair to remain in the post.

The party said that the Prime Minister of the acting government is making long-term decisions which are against the national interest.

After the meeting, UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula said that the Prime Minister should tender his resignation and pave the way for forming a national consensus government.

“It is unfair that the government which fell into minority is not resigning for a long time. We have urged the Prime Minister to resign immediately and help in forming a national government,” he said, adding, “The government is making various decisions. The government has no power to make any decision in this situation. This is against the national interest.”

The UML has already withdrawn support to the government after an agreement was reached between the UML and the Nepali Congress to form a new ruling equation.

The party already recalled its ministers.

According to the agreement, UML chair KP Sharma Oli will lead the government initially to push for constitutional amendments and then hand over power to NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba to conduct the 2027 elections.

The CPN-UML has officially informed the federal Parliament Secretariat about its withdrawal of support to the CPN (Maoist Center)-led government.

According to party Chief Whip Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, the party conveyed via a letter to the Parliament Secretariat today that it withdrew its support to the government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

In the letter, the party states that the support was withdrawn on July 3 given the efforts to form a new government of national consensus to establish political stability in the country.

The Prime Minister has been duly informed of this development and the CPN-UML will be assuming the role of opposition in the Parliament, the party said in the letter.

Dear readers,

This week, the political landscape was dominated by a crucial agreement between the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML. These two parties have pledged to ensure much-needed political stability and to amend the 2015 Constitution to address certain “flawed provisions.” We covered this agreement from multiple angles, including a long-form article titled “The Story Behind the Formation of a New Coalition,” which explains how and why the two parties came together. We appreciate our readers’ enthusiastic response to this story. Additionally, we published a commentary titled “Can the NC-UML Alliance Bring Stability?” which questions the longevity of the to be formed government, given the parties’ past difficulties in working together.

The full text of the agreement signed by NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli has not yet been made public. With the UML pulling out its support, the Pushpa Kamal Dahal government has been relegated to the minority, but he is refusing to step down. Dahal may use constitutional provisions that allow him to face parliament within 30 days. 

Meanwhile, there are widespread concerns about the contents of the proposed constitutional amendments by NC and UML, particularly among Madhes-based parties and other groups advocating for identity politics. There are also questions about which external forces may be influencing these political developments. Speculations abound, but no definitive answers are available. Rumors suggest that Dahal’s refusal to resign might be influenced by external advice, allowing time for preparations to continue the current coalition with Deuba as prime minister. Attempts to find clues in Indian and Chinese media were inconclusive.

The agreement between Deuba and Oli has been endorsed by both parties, but it has caused some dissatisfaction as well. NC General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa was initially opposed but has since accepted the agreement. Similarly, there are reservations within UML, but both Deuba and Oli have a strong grip on their parties, making significant disruptions unlikely.

In another development, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which emerged from the 2022 national election, is facing an internal crisis. Party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane and General Secretary Mukul Dhakal are at odds, with Lamichhane expelling Dhakal for allegedly violating party discipline. Dhakal’s symbolic protest at a party meeting, where he taped his mouth to give a message that there is no freedom of expression in the party, highlights the issue of intra-party democracy, a common issue in all political parties of Nepal.

Now onto some positives. Despite these political challenges, there has been progress in concluding the transitional justice process. The NC, UML, and the Maoist Center have formed a cross-party mechanism to address remaining contentious issues of the constitution. This team consisting of Ramedh Lekhak from NC, Mahesh Bartaula from UML, and Janardhan Sharma from the Maoist party has already started its work. The transitional justice process, initiated on the basis of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, 2006, remains incomplete, but there are plans to endorse an amendment bill in the ongoing Parliament. However, new political developments could delay this process further.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continued to draw attention this week. Congress leaders reiterated their position against taking loans under the BRI, which does not offer grant provisions. Additionally, Parliament has formed panels to investigate alleged corruption in the construction of Pokhara and Bhairahawa International Airports. Meanwhile, the Nepal government has published a concept note on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and needs to accelerate efforts to regulate AI, a topic that still lacks widespread understanding in Nepal.

This week, the infamous fake Bhutanese refugee scandal once again made national headlines with the arrest of Bechain Jha and Pratik Thapa, the son of former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa. This marks a significant step in the investigation involving former ministers, their relatives and senior government officials. Cooperative scandals also made headlines this week, with police arresting many cooperative owners based on public complaints. A probe panel has been set up to investigate these cases. Home Minister Lamichhane has assured to investigate all past high-profile corruption cases. But the latest political alliance between NC and UML means Lamichhane’s days as home minister are numbered.

This week, CPN (Unified Socialist) led by former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal held its generation convention. The convention unanimously elected Nepal as party chairman and Ghana Shyam Bhushal as general secretary. The same set of leaders have returned as party office-bearers. Bhushal’s attempt to displace Nepal has turned futile. The NC-UML agreement at the center has started to impact the provincial government. For instance, UML has withdrawn the support to the Sudurpaschim government. 

I will be back with more updates next week. Wishing you all a happy weekend!

As a new power equation is going to be formed, CPN-UML ministers are preparing to resign from their posts on Tuesday.

UML’s minister said that preparations are being made to resign today after an agreement was reached on Monday night to form a Nepali Congress-UML alliance.

UML ministers will resign and withdraw the support extended to the government if Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal did not pave the way by putting in his papers.

“An agreement has been reached between the two big parties of Parliament--UML and Congress-- on Monday night to form a new power equation. We ministers are preparing to resign en-masse as per the same,” he said.

UML has eight ministers in the government under the leadership of Secretary Raghubir Mahaseth.

Mahaseth is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure, Padam Giri, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Hari Upreti, Minister for Defense, Bhagwati Chaudhary, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Rajendra Rai, Minister for Drinking Water, Damodar Bhandari, Minister for Industry and Commerce, Jwala Kumari Sah, Minister for Agriculture and Balram Adhikari, Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation.

With the agreement to form a new alliance between Nepali Congress and UML, it is certain that the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government will fall into minority.

According to a source, the UML has already informed President Ram Chandra Paudel that it has withdrawn support to the Dahal-led government and has moved ahead to form a new coalition.

The process of forming a new government would prolong if Prime Minister Dahal did not resign.

There is a provision that the Prime Minister should seek a vote of confidence within 30 days if any of the parties participating in the government withdraw their support.

The Nepali Congress said that it has decided to cooperate with the CPN-UML to address the issues of common people.

After an office bearers meeting held at Budhanilkantha on Tuesday morning, spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat informed that the party has decided to form an alliance with the UML for political stability, good governance and economic reform.

He said that an agreement has been signed on Monday night that a national consensus government will be formed under the headship of UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba will lead the government after one-and-a-half years.

Spokesperson Mahat further said that an agreement has also been reached to make necessary amendments to the Constitution.

He went on to say that discussions are also being held to rope in other parties in the government.

Leader Mahat made it clear that the UML-NC alliance was the demand of time to take the country towards the path of stability.