In a move that signals escalating political tensions, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has issued a direct call to his party cadres to confront Nepal's current interim government. This instruction comes immediately after Oli's significant re-election to a third term as the party's chairman, solidifying his control over the UML.
A Directive for Direct Confrontation
Addressing a gathering of party members and leaders at the UML's central office in Chyasal, Kathmandu, Oli laid out a clear and confrontational strategy. He explicitly told his cadres not to recognize or cooperate with the directives of the incumbent government, which he labeled as "caretaker" in nature. The core of his message was a command to "confront" this administration at every possible level.
This interim government is led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', who continues to hold office despite the recent dissolution of the coalition between his party, the Maoist Centre, and Oli's UML. The political landscape fractured after the UML withdrew its support, leading to the current precarious situation.
Background of the Political Rupture
The genesis of this crisis lies in the broken alliance between the two major political forces. The UML's decision to pull out from the ruling coalition effectively left the Prachanda-led government in a minority. Despite this, Prachanda has not resigned, arguing that he will face a floor test in Parliament. This has resulted in a constitutional and political deadlock, with the government operating in a caretaker capacity while attempting to prove its majority.
Oli's re-election as UML chairman for a third term, a position he has held since 2014, provided the platform for this aggressive stance. The party's general convention, held in Chitwan, was a display of Oli's unchallenged authority, with key allies like former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and senior leader Bhim Rawal sidelined. This internal consolidation of power appears to have empowered Oli to take a harder line against the external political opposition.
Implications for Nepal's Stability
Oli's call for confrontation is not merely rhetorical; it has serious practical implications. By instructing his vast network of party workers across the country to challenge the government's authority, he risks creating administrative chaos and street-level tensions. This strategy puts immense pressure on Prime Minister Prachanda and tests the resilience of Nepal's democratic institutions.
The situation places civil servants and local administrators in a difficult position, caught between the directives of the central government and the opposition from the country's largest political party. Furthermore, it raises questions about the government's ability to implement budgets, development projects, and day-to-day governance effectively during this period of intense political warfare.
All eyes are now on Parliament, where a floor test will ultimately decide the fate of the Prachanda government. However, Oli's preemptive strike, mobilizing his cadre base, suggests the battle will be fought both inside the legislative chamber and on the ground, setting the stage for a prolonged and volatile political showdown in Nepal.
