9 September 2024

The Revolving Door Of Nepali Politics – Analysis

Anil Sigdel

Instability is the norm in Nepali politics. The multiparty democratic system revolves around power-hungry politicians, short-lived, unnatural alliances and high-profile corruption cases.

Following the 2022 elections, Nepali Congress, with 89 seats, and the Communist Party of Nepal–Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN–UML), with 78 seats, are the first and the second largest parties respectively in the 275-seat House of Representatives. Former prime minister Puspa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ previously led a coalition comprised of his party, the Communist Party of Nepal–Marxist Center and CPN–UML. Prachanda, who has served as prime minister for three non-consecutive terms, had maintained his grip on power by switching sides in quick succession.

But Prachanda began to punch above his weight of 32 seats in the parliament by taking steps that further widened the differences between him, the CPN–UML and the opposition party Nepali Congress. The result was that CMN–UML and Nepali Congress formed a coalition to oust him. Prachanda left office on 6 July 2024, replaced by CPN–UML leader Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli.


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