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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.

The CPN-UML has decided not to participate in the Socialist Front.

After holding a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday afternoon, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli said that they would not participate in the Socialist Front.

When asked what did the two leaders discuss in the meeting?

Oli said that he discussed contemporary political issues with Prime Minister Dahal. The two leaders discussed Nepali Congress’s House obstruction and transitional justice bill among other issues, the Prime Minister’s private secretariat said.

Earlier this morning, a meeting of the four-party front was held in Baluwatar.

During the meeting, a discussion was held to include the UML in the front.

Prime Minister Dahal was authorized to hold a discussion with Chairman Oli and to include the UML in the front.

The CPN-UML has concluded its ‘Resolution for Prosperity’ campaign, traversing the Mid-Hills Highway from Juhlaghat in Baitadi in the west to Chiwa Bhanjyang in Panchthar in the east.

During the campaign, the UML engaged with people from various walks of life and collected their suggestions and grievances. The party has compiled all these inputs and submitted a memorandum to the government, drawing attention to people's concerns.

The document includes 751 demands related to 46 sectors, according to UML leaders. “We collected people’s suggestions and grievances by interacting with different political parties, organizations, local units, and business leaders, among others. It is the government's responsibility to address these concerns,” stated UML Deputy General Secretary Pradip Gyawali.

One of the demands highlighted in the memorandum is a change in the alignment of the Mid-Hills Highway in certain areas. The UML has said in the document that the highway has been routed through unnecessary places due to political pressure and influence. UMl has called for a 'technical audit' of the highway to reduce its length.

“The 1,879-kilometer highway won't be appropriate from a national highway perspective. The length can be reduced by constructing tunnels and viaducts,” UML has stated in the memorandum. “Track opening work hasn't begun in some areas. Similarly, there has been a delay in the installation of the Bailey bridge in Matela of Jajarkot. Contractors leaving work midway should be penalized.”

Rajendra Gautam, chief of UML’s Publicity Department, said that the length of the highway can be reduced by 500 kilometers compared to the under-construction Madan Bhandari Highway.

751-point demand

Province-wise, there are 161 demands from Gandaki, 170 from Koshi, 135 from Sudurpashchim, 113 from Bagmati, 89 from Karnali, 75 from Lumbini, and eight from Madhesh.  The majority of these demands focus on road development, education, tourism, agriculture, horticulture, health, industry, and energy. Local communities have also sought programs for bridge construction, irrigation, building construction, culture preservation and promotion, land management, settlement development, sports, ending caste-based discrimination, water supply, and river training, among others. Most of the demands (157) are related to roads, while 25 demands are related to motorable bridges.

“The increasing demands in the road sector indicate that the mid-hills region is emphasizing on connectivity,” said Gautam. “Some of the demands include shortening the Mid-Hills Highway, managing settlements along the road, and proper management of secondary roads connected to the highway.”

In the education sector, most demands revolve around the management of teaching positions, relief quota teachers, and the quality of education in community schools. Additionally, locals have called for the promotion of archaeological sites along the highway, the preparation of a tourism master plan, and the construction of trekking trails.

“In the agriculture sector, we see great potential for orange and marigold farming in the mid-hills region,” said Gautam.

Similarly, local stakeholders have demanded programs for easy access to health services.

UML has concluded that the construction of the Mid-Hills Highway has made a positive contribution to the mid-hills region, emphasizing its potential for agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry. “Since the area is rich in water resources, boasts a clean environment, offers beautiful vantage points for sightseeing, and is rich in the culture, tradition, and lifestyle of different ethnic groups, the mid-hills region holds immense prospects for tourism development,” reads the memorandum.

Migration taking a toll

UML has acknowledged both the challenges and opportunities in the mid-hills region, identifying migration as a major issue in the hilly areas. “Many settlements are becoming empty, and schools in a few places are on the verge of closure due to a lack of students. Farmland has been left fallow,” said Gyawali. “There are only children and the elderly in many settlements.” Gyawali said that the government must dispel misconceptions that nothing can be done in Nepal to check migration. “Lack of market access and fair prices for farm products is one of the reasons behind growing migration in the mid-hills region. We have drawn the attention of the government toward this issue,” he added.

UML has also urged the government to halt the uncontrolled import of vegetable products to support local farmers. Controlling middlemen, providing capital and technology for farmers, implementing crop and livestock insurance programs, ensuring a minimum support price, and facilitating market access for farm products are some of the suggestions given by the party.

Additionally, the party has drawn the attention of the government toward crop loss caused by wildlife such as monkeys and wild boars, as well as irrigation problems due to receding water levels because of the impacts of climate change. UMl has sought concrete programs to address these issues.

Slow progress of development projects

The UML has expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress of transformative projects in the region, such as Bheri-Babai, Sunkoshi-Marin, and Pushpalal Mid-Hills Highway. Additionally, it highlighted that initiatives such as health insurance, basic hospitals, and the establishment of government medical colleges in each province have not advanced. Furthermore, the budget for strategic road projects has been unfairly reduced, it alleged..

The party concluded that extreme favoritism has become evident in development work. Laxity in project execution and economic recession have plunged businesses related to construction materials into crisis, with a lack of coordination hindering infrastructure development efforts.

Gyawali added that the party has brought to the government’s attention deliberate attempts to undermine nationally significant projects initiated by the UML. He cited examples such as the non-construction of the main dam of Bheri Babai despite the completion of the diversion tunnel. “While tunneling work in Sunkoshi Marin is nearing completion, other components of the projects are not progressing at a similar pace,” he added.

The UML has also said that the plan to build 10 new cities along the Mid-Hills Highway, initiated 14 years ago, is in limbo. Gautam stated that the government has reduced the budget for this component of the highway project.

The initial plan aimed to create cities equipped with modern services and infrastructure capable of accommodating at least 100,000 residents each. A primary objective of these cities was to control migration.

Lack of coordination

Stating that a lack of coordination among government agencies is affecting infrastructure projects, including highways, the UML called for proper coordination among line agencies. “The construction of the Mid-hills Highway has been affected in Gorkha and Dhading districts due to the proposed Budhigandaki Reservoir project. Similarly, the road section in Ramechhap has been unnecessarily extended to avoid inundation by the Sunkoshi-Marin project,” UMl said in the memorandum. “Lack of approval for a bridge over Karnali by the proposed Betan Karnali Hydropower Project is forcing locals of Achham to undertake a nearly 400-kilometer journey to reach provincial headquarters in Dhangadhi.”

CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli today handed a memorandum incorporating 751 plans and programs along with possibilities and challenges of the development of the Mid-hills region to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

The main opposition party compiled in written form the demands, memos and suggestions that it received from the people and the problems the party itself observed in course of the 'Resolution Journey for Prosperity' campaign launched by the UML from Jhulaghat of Baitadi to Chiwabhanjyang of Taplejung from November 30 to December 17.

The UML has drawn the attention of the Government of Nepal to the latest condition of the Pushpalal (Mid-hills) highway and also to the need of realignment and improvement of the highway at several places. It is stated that the Mid-hills region has accorded priority to the highest number of 157 demands related to the road and 25 related to construction of bridges.

Among the major suggestions are related to road, education, tourism, agriculture and fruits, health, industries, energy, motorable bridges, irrigation, building construction, preservation and promotion of culture, land management, settlement development, sports, ending the evil social practices as caste discrimination and untouchability, and violence, management of drinking water and source conservation, reconstruction and rehabilitation in earthquake-affected areas, construction of tunnel way, prevention of soil erosion and construction of embankments, among others.

The memo incorporated various issues including migration becoming a big challenge in hilly settlements, some of the settlements turning empty due to outmigration, some of the schools being on verge of closure in lack of students, fertile land turning barren, some of the places even lacking family members to take care their elderly parents, as well as lack of youths to carry the dead to the cremation ground, said UML's central Publicity and Publication Department Chief, Rajendra Gautam.

Similarly, the UML urged the government to stop the uncontrolled import of agro products from foreign countries, to control exploitation by middlemen, to make arrangements of capital and technology, crop insurance, support price of production and its market.

Stating that post-earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation task in Jajarkot and Rukum West is in snail's pace and very disappointing, the UML assessed that death of more than 34 quake-victims from cold in lack of temporary huts and warm clothes is the matter of shame.

It also demanded the government to save the life of the people by providing relief for temporary huts and guarantee the temporary huts for them immediately.

The CPN-UML has decided not to withdraw the support extended to the Koshi Province government.

A Koshi Province Parliamentary Party meeting of the UML held in Biratnagar-based Province Assembly building on Monday has decided to continue the support despite quitting the government, Koshi Province Chief Whip Rewati Raman Bhandari said.

He said that the party has decided not to withdraw the support extended to the government but decided to sit in the Province Assembly meeting as the main opposition.

The Koshi Province government was formed under the leadership of Kedar Karki with the support of 39 province lawmakers.

Chief Minister Karki has to seek the vote of confidence again if the UML withdraws support extended to the government.

The UML had quit the government after the ministers were appointed in the provincial government from the Maoist Center and CPN (Unified Socialist).

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba among other leaders attended a tea reception hosted by the CPN-UML on the occasion of the Dashain, Tihar, Nepal Sambad and Chhat festivals on Wednesday.

Chairman KP Sharma Oli among other party leaders welcomed Prime Minister Dahal and former Prime Minister Deuba to the reception organized at the party central office in Chyasal, Lalitpur.

Similarly, House of Representatives (HoR) Speaker Devraj Ghimire, CPN (Unified Socialist) leader Jhalanath Khanal, CPN (Maoist Center) leader Janardan Sharma, Rastriya Janamorcha's Chair Chitra Bahadur KC, Communist Party of Nepal's Netra Bikram Chand and other leaders from various political parties and people from different walks of life attended the reception.