KATHMANDU, July 18: Senior Nepali Congress (NC) leader and Member of Parliament Dr Shekhar Koirala appears to be ramping up his political engagements, with back-to-back high-level meetings that are being closely watched in Kathmandu’s political circles.
On Friday, Dr Koirala held a two-hour-long meeting with CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, where he didn’t mince words about the shortcomings of the current coalition government. According to insiders, Koirala conveyed his dissatisfaction over what he described as an increasingly dysfunctional administration, plagued by corruption scandals and eroding public trust.
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Earlier that day, Dr Koirala made an unexpected visit to Bhangal, Budhanilkantha Municipality, where he met former President Bidya Devi Bhandari at her private residence. While the meeting was not announced in advance, it has drawn significant attention, especially as Bhandari is said to be weighing a more active role in politics post-presidency—a move that has already caused ripples within her party, the CPN-UML.
Sources close to Dr Koirala said the two leaders discussed a range of contemporary political issues, including the government’s performance, the state of the economy, and rising public discontent. “They exchanged views on the effectiveness of the government and the growing frustrations among the people,” a leader close to Dr Koirala told Republica.
The timing of Dr Koirala’s outreach is telling. With murmurs of a potential political realignment and visible disillusionment among the public, his meetings with both Dahal and Bhandari suggest he may be positioning himself for a more assertive role in shaping what comes next.
Whether these conversations lead to concrete political moves or remain just strategic consultations, one thing is clear—Dr Koirala is no longer content staying on the sidelines.
