Submit your Article

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.

CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel said that a joint government of UML and Nepali Congress will be formed for political stability.

He said that other parties will also be incorporated in the KP Sharma Oli-led national government.

General Secretary Pokharel, who had played an important role to bring Nepali Congress and UML to one place, informed that an agreement has been reached with the Congress to amend the Constitution for political stability.

Taking to Facebook, leader Pokharel said: “An agreement has been reached between UML and Nepali Congress to form a national consensus government under the leadership of KP Sharma Oli to necessary amendments to the Constitution and to formulate laws for political stability.” “The parties, who agreed to this process, will be included in the national government.”

Also Read: Are NC and UML trying to form a national unity govt?

In the 275-member House of Representatives, Nepali Congress has 88 seats while UML has 79.

Fringe parties should be included to secure a two-thirds majority.

Attempts to form the ruling alliance of Congress and UML were being made for a long time.

UML General Secretary Pokharel has been taking the initiatives.

Over the past two weeks, former president Bidya Devi Bhandari has reentered the spotlight of national politics for two main reasons.

First, Bhandari attended a CPN-UML function in Kathmandu for the first time since her retirement, addressing an audience of five thousand UML women cadres. Second, media reports suggested she renewed her UML party membership, which she had relinquished after becoming president in 2015. However, neither the UML nor Bhandari has confirmed this.

Following these reports, some lawmakers questioned whether Bhandari could continue receiving state benefits if she renewed her party membership. Nonetheless, since her retirement, she has chosen to reside in her private home, declining the government's offer of official residence.

Tika Dhakal, Bhandari’s former advisor, refuted the media claims, calling them false and aimed at tarnishing her image. Dhakal emphasized that Bhandari does not need formal membership to participate in party activities and would renew her membership openly and transparently if she chose to do so—and with significant party support.

UML leaders close to Bhandari suggest her return to active politics is possible and not prohibited by the Constitution. They believe she would be a unifying figure within the party and a prominent national leader due to her clean image and widespread acceptability.

Speculations about Bhandari’s political comeback began even before her retirement. In a notable instance, during an informal gathering before her departure from Sheetal Niwas, leaders like UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal asked her about potential return. Bhandari, however, avoided committing to such plans, leaving the decision open.

Political circles continue to buzz about Bhandari’s intentions. Some argue she leads an informal faction within the UML against Oli, although both she and Oli have remained publicly silent on this matter. It is believed that any political move by Bhandari would aim for consensus rather than conflict with Oli.

Second-tier UML leaders, such as Bishnu Pokhrel, Ishwor Pokhrel, and Shankar Pokhrel, are vying for leadership but might support Bhandari as a unifying figure. Given her legacy and broad acceptance, party leaders see her as a strong candidate for leading the party after Oli.

Bhandari has not ruled out a return to politics. In an interview with this journalist  in November last year, she said: “I have not made a decision regarding a return to active politics at the moment.”  As for Oli’s potential successor, the former president said it was “an internal matter” of the party.

“It is premature to discuss leadership after Oli, as we still have a long way to go before the convention,” said Bhandari, suggesting the UML members to focus on strengthening the party rather than hankering for power. 

Based on Bhandari’s statements and recent actions, it appears she might re-engage in politics by the next UML convention or before the 2027 elections. UML leaders believe she supports the unification of leftist alliances, which could see Oli as prime minister, Dahal as president, and Bhandari leading the party if a coalition is formed after the 2027 elections.

CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula accused the Nepali Congress of demanding the government in the name of a parliamentary committee.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting called by Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire, he clarified that the parliamentary committee will not be formed as demanded by the Congress.

“Congress has not demanded the parliamentary committee. It has demanded the government in the name of a parliamentary committee, which is not possible. The parliamentary probe committee is not in accordance with law and regulations,” Bartaula said.

He was of the opinion that the demand of Congress is not in favor of cooperative victims.

“The demand of Congress will not be addressed,” he further said.

“We have come here to formulate laws, not to carry out investigations. We will be only investigation officers for five years if we keep on forming committees,” Chief Whip Bartaula said, adding, “The UML will also pile pressure on the government to take a concrete initiative to resolve the problems of cooperative victims.”

The government is unveiling its policies and programs on Tuesday.

President Ram Chandra Paudel will present the government policies and programs in the joint meeting of the House of Representatives and National Assembly.

A senior Nepali Congress leader said on Wednesday that no serious negotiation has been taking place with the CPN-UML about toppling the current coalition government and forming a new one.

The comment from NC leader Ramesh Lekhak comes amid reports that senior leader Shekhar Koirala is in constant talks with UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli to topple the current government and form a new government under leadership of the two parties. 

He said: We are in no hurry to break this (five-party) ruling alliance. NC is the largest party at the Center as well as in the provinces, so talks with other parties are natural. He, however, said talks have been taking place within the NC about forming a new government with UML. Ruling coalitions with small parties have resulted in frequent changes in government, so a section within the party thinks it is better for the NC and the UML to cobble together a new government, he said.

There is a similar opinion within the UML also, but no concrete discussions have taken place between the NC and the UML on this matter, Lekhak added. 

Of late, NC leaders have gone on record saying that they will bring down the current ruling coalition. Before forming the current coalition on March 4, UML had offered premiership to NC. These days, however, UML Chair KP Sharma Oli is ruling out the possibility of NC and UML coming together to form a new government. UML and CPN (Maoist Center) have some outstanding power-sharing issues, but Oli is reportedly in favor of giving continuity to the current ruling coalition for now.

The CPN-UML has awarded the 'Republic Pride Honor' to former President Bidya Devi Bhandari. 

The honor was presented on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Communist Party of Nepal amidst a ceremony held today at the Godavari-based Sunrise Meeting Hall. 

The National Congress Representatives Council meeting of the CPN-UMLthat concluded on Sunday decided to honor the former President with the title. Bhandari is the former Vice Chair of the party. She received the award from party Chair and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Bhandari was presented the honor in recognition of her contribution to the democratic and communist movement in the country, and to the safeguarding of national sovereignty, it is said.

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN  (Unified Socialist) respected leader and former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, Nepal Socialist Party Chair and former Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai and (former) Chair of Council of Ministers, Khilraj Regmi were among those present on the occasion.

It’s difficult to form opinions based solely on the speeches of Nepal’s political leaders and their political documents. More often than not they contradict themselves, disregarding their previous positions. 

Amid discussions of unity within communist parties, the recent political document presented by CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli has sparked interest, as it explicitly states UML's reluctance to endorse polarization among major political entities under the guise of communist unity. This stance has raised eyebrows within CPN (Maoist Center). Presenting his political report at the meeting of the UML National Representatives Council in Lalitpur on Saturday, Oli emphasized that aligning political forces solely under leftist or socialist banners, while excluding other ideologies and entities, is not pragmatic. 

Instead, he stressed the importance of cooperation among like-minded forces. He highlighted the need to foster trust and cooperation among diverse ideological backgrounds, suggesting that unity should evolve naturally as trust deepens. "As cooperation deepens and an environment of trust is built, those with similar ideas can gradually come together in the future. But for now, it is more important to move forward by taking all positive forces along." 

Regarding the current political landscape, Oli acknowledged that the formation of a new alliance comprising the Maoist Center, UML, Rastriya Swatantra Party, and few other parties has improved the political situation. However, he expressed concerns about the sustainability of this coalition, citing past incidents. “Based on some past incidents, contexts, and experiences, there are doubts in people’s mind about the sustainability of this cooperation," Oli said. He underscored the importance of actions over rhetoric in dispelling doubts about the coalition's longevity.

Furthermore, Oli warned of the increased possibility of instability stemming from the presence of multiple parties in parliament, particularly those with diverging views on key constitutional issues. 

"The country is in need of stability. But the presence of a dozen parties in the House of Representatives and a significant number of those disagreeing on key issues of the constitution has further increased the possibility of political instability," he said. 

The UML chair also noted the emergence of populist forces and the resurgence of traditional right-wing parties, attributing these trends to disillusionment among the populace caused by political shortcomings and economic crises. "Political shortcomings, economic crisis, lack of job opportunities and poor governance have all fed the public’s disillusionment with traditional political parties. Meanwhile, populist and right-wing forces are exploiting the public discontent," he added.

While Oli's rejection of immediate leftist unity may seem like a tactical maneuver, he hasn't entirely dismissed its possibility. UML perceives the current coalition as an achievement, having thwarted the anti-UML alliance between Nepali Congress and the Maoist party preceding the 2022 national elections. 

Currently, there are three major communist parties—UML, Maoist Center and CPN (Unified Socialist)—of which UML is the largest and strongest. In case these three parties decide to unite, the asymmetry between them is likely to make the power-sharing and leadership issue very challenging. For instance, Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal may seek vital positions within the unified party, a proposition that the UML leaders close to Oli will not accept. 

The strained relationship between Oli and Nepal could also hinder the unification process. Although the Maoist is talking about communist unity, UML and Unified Socialist do not appear too keen about the idea.  “There are no immediate possibilities of communist parties uniting because of the disparity between their ideologies and their future course,” said Rajendra Pandey, vice-chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist). 

Analysts suggest that Oli prioritizes securing unwavering commitment from all parties before pursuing communist unity in the long term. Although he envisions leading a united communist front eventually, he refrains from polarizing national politics along communist and non-communist lines for now. Uncertainty looms over the future of the current coalition, with UML closely monitoring the government’s functioning while refraining from committing to long-term support for Prime Minister Dahal. Maoist leaders say Oli’s position on left unity could be a tactical move and he may have informed Dahal about it. Or else, they say this could be the beginning of the crisis in the current coalition. 

After Oli unveiled his political document, Prime Minister Dahal has also changed his position about the communist unity. 

“This government is not wholly composed of communist parties. There are other parties too. So it is not a left unity, it is just a ruling coalition. If there is an understanding among the communist parties, they may come together some day,” Dahal said. This was a clear departure from his previous statement where he said that the current coalition was a beginning of the communist unity. 

The key takeaway from Oli’s political document is that UML currently extends support to the government, but it is also keeping avenues open for potential collaboration with Nepali Congress in the future.

The discussion of leftist unity in Nepal has drawn international attention, with China advocating for a unified communist party while other democratic powers prefer a coalition government encompassing both communist and non-communist forces. Oli's political document also addresses escalating geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, cautioning against provocative actions that could jeopardize regional stability and world peace, particularly highlighting US involvement in the Taiwan issue. “The task of safeguarding Nepal’s national independence, dignity and national interests has become more complicated, amidst the changing geopolitics, geo-economics and competition between major powers,” Oli said in his political report. “We must move forward carefully to protect our national interests by viewing these changes in geopolitics with a sensitive perspective.”

Groupwise discussions are taking place from today in the ongoing first meeting of the National Convention Representatives Council of the CPN-UML. The meeting started on Saturday at Sunrise Hall in Godawari, Latilpur.

Discussions are expected in Chairperson KP Sharma Oli's political report and general secretary Shankar Pokharel's organizational report.

The reports have raised the issue of democratizing the party's life and making UML a decisive national force through upcoming elections to reach socialism by fulfilling the national aspirations of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali'.

Likewise, the reports of the central disciplinary commission, central accounts commission, central accounts commission, central election commission and central advisory council would also be discussed in the meeting, Chief of UML Publicity Department Rajendra Gautam said.

The meeting attended by more than 2,454 representatives is expected to chart out the party's course for making it a robust national force through organizational strengthening and refinement.

Likewise, the UML is hosting a special programme on the occasion of the 75th year of the establishment of the party on Monday.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, former Prime Ministers and top leaders of the parties are scheduled to attend the special ceremony.

Over a month has passed since Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal dissolved his alliance with the Nepali Congress (NC) to form a new coalition with the CPN-UML and other parties, including the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).

Dahal’s rationale for the shift in political alliance was his belief that the Congress ministers hindered his work, necessitating a fresh start for the government. However, there’s been little improvement in Dahal’s approach. He continues to repeat past mistakes, such as frequently transferring government secretaries and prioritizing ceremonial functions over office duties.

Meanwhile, the NC, as the main opposition, has been vocal about addressing pressing issues such as investigating Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane for his alleged involvement in the misappropriation of financial cooperative deposits. 

The Dahal government has also failed to address other key issues such as amending more than one dozen laws targeting the upcoming investment summit, improving the country’s economy and stopping mass exodus of youths to foreign countries.

Despite the UML showing considerable support for the Dahal government, internal dissatisfaction is growing regarding its performance. The UML leadership, led by KP Sharma Oli, has refrained from criticizing the government publicly but is privately concerned.

What will UML do if the Dahal government cannot deliver on his promises and goes on to become even more unpopular? The UML leaders do not have a definite answer to it. One glue that is likely to keep the Maoist-UML together is the dream of reviving the left unity. While Prime Minister Dahal says the Maoist and UML could ultimately form a left unity, UML leaders do not seem so optimistic. They view the coalition primarily as a ruling alliance, not a true leftist collaboration.

However, second-rung leaders from the Maoists and UML say that in the face of emergence of new political parties and growing public frustration, formation of left unity is imperative for the survival of both parties. Furthermore, they say the NC’s commitment to the 2015 constitution, particularly on secularism, is wavering and that left parties should come together to protect those achievements.  

“This was also one of the reasons that led Prime Minister Dahal to break alliance because the Nepali Congress was planning to make a proposal of referendum to decide on secularism,” said on Maoist leader. He added though the parties are under pressure to reconsider secularism, at least the Maoists and UML are unlikely to agree on it.

While these agenda are likely to keep the two parties together, it is still a difficult task because there are many differences among the communist parties. The first one is obviously a power-sharing among the key leaders of communist parties such as Maoist, UML and CPN (Unified Socialist). As per the informal agreement, Prime Minister Dahal will hand over the government leadership to Oli; and it is uncertain whether CPN-UML (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal will lead the government.

Amid all this, the potential for collaboration between NC and UML is gaining traction. Prominent NC figures, including Dr Shekhar Koirala, Gagan Thapa, and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, have signaled openness to cooperation with the UML to address public concerns and foster political stability. 

Even Sher Bahadur Deuba, NC’s president, has expressed willingness to engage with the UML, reflecting a growing consensus within the NC on the necessity of cooperation. His regret over past decisions reflects a growing consensus within the NC that cooperation with the UML is essential for addressing the public’s disenchantment and fostering a more stable political environment. 

NC leader Koirala, who leads the anti-establishment faction of NC, is at the forefront of leaders advocating for NC-UML cooperation. Of late, he has increased the frequency of meetings with UML leaders. Talking to reporters at Biratnagar Airport last week, he said that the NC and UML need to unite to bring stability and development to the country.

He said the new UML-Maoist Center coalition can neither deliver economic development nor provide political stability. “The new constitution could only be drafted when the NC and UML came together. There is no alternative to these two parties uniting for the country’s development,” he said. “It has become clear that there won’t be stability in provincial governments. If we want to bring stability and development to the country, NC and UML must come together.” 

The UML, too, appears receptive to collaboration. Oli, during the previous presidential election, hinted at the possibility of political shifts, indicating a willingness to adapt. 

If there is an agreement, UML Chairman Oli is likely to lead the government in the first phase and hand over the power to NC President Deuba to hold the elections in 2027. 

Interestingly, PM Dahal and Oli have differences over the nature of the new alliance. While Dahal insists that the long-term plan is to achieve left unity through this coalition, Oli is not willing to accept this alliance as a coalition yet. 

“What we have created is essentially a power equation. We all have different plans and election manifesto,” Oli said, addressing the Kaski District Convention of UML in Pokhara a few days ago. It clearly shows that both Oli and Dahal do not have a concrete plan for a long-term cooperation.