KATHMANDU, Dec 21: The Nepal Communist Party (NCP) staged a show of strength in the capital on Saturday. Addressing a gathering held at Bhrikutimandap after a rally, NCP leaders said the party would not run away from the election but stressed that the polls must be held on the scheduled date of March 5, 2026. The NCP, formed through an alliance of the Maoist Centre, CPN Unified Socialist, and other forces, organised its first power show in Kathmandu. Earlier, the party had already held unity message assemblies in seven cities across the country.
Speaking at the Kathmandu gathering, NCP coordinator and former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal warned the government not to postpone the election date under any pretext, saying the party would not remain silent if the date is shifted. He also warned the government not to repeatedly violate the Constitution, noting that it has already been breached to some extent.
On the same day, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, marking 100 days of her government, issued a message stating that holding elections is the government’s top priority. The UML, meanwhile, has been demanding the restoration of the House of Representatives, arguing that the current government is incapable of conducting elections. At this juncture, the NCP held a rally in Kathmandu to firmly express its position in favour of elections.
Dahal urged the government to create a conducive environment for holding elections smoothly. “We have said that elections should be completed smoothly. We want to warn the government not to dare postpone the election date using any argument or excuse. Do not repeatedly attempt to violate the Constitution, which has already been breached to some extent.
Even though the Constitution was partly violated, we facilitated the formation of this interim government considering the country’s difficult situation. But if the government again postpones or pushes back the election date, it will amount to another constitutional violation. If that happens, we will not remain silent,” Dahal said. He added that his party wants the elections to be held peacefully.
‘Kathmandu Blues & Roots Festival’ on Saturday
Targeting newly formed parties, Dahal warned those without a history of sacrifice or commitment, whom he described as arrogant and boastful, against using the language of revenge and attempting to belittle parties with a legacy of struggle. He said his party had reached this point by uniting the strength of the people’s war and mass movements with the aim of saving the country from crisis.
He cautioned that the massive public participation seen in favour of the NCP from Dhangadhi to Lamahi, Pokhara, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Madhesh, Surkhet, and Kathmandu should not be taken lightly. “If this force is provoked again and if the Constitution is played with once more, this force will come to the streets,” he warned.
Dahal said that if the government’s tenure is extended without holding elections on time, the country will again face disaster, and the NCP will not remain a mere spectator. In such a situation, he said, the party would take to the streets carrying the banner of revolt from all 77 districts and every local level.
He reminded that it was this very force that dismantled the 250-year-old monarchy and established a republic, warning others not to take that strength lightly. Dahal claimed that the NCP, formed after the unity of 16 small and large leftist forces, has become the country’s number one political force.
Dahal accused new parties emerging in the name of alternative politics of being idea less, rootless, and driven by stunts. Addressing the gathering with leaders such as Madhav Nepal and Jhalanath Khanal seated on the stage, he said those relying on social media for politics have dared to belittle parties with a history of sacrifice. “I see some rootless elements, with no ideological foundation, no history of sacrifice, and no commitment, easily daring to look down on us. Beware. Remember, we are the force that ended a 250-year-old monarchy and brought in a republic,” he said.
He made sharp remarks against new political forces and independents, accusing them of spreading confusion by exploiting the name of the younger generation, or Gen Z, and creating hype through social media stunts without any ideology or political agenda. “Do not follow the noise created by stunt driven figures. There is no history, no well thought out ideology. Creating stunts on social media to mislead people has become like a disease. But the Nepal Communist Party did not emerge from stunts, it emerged from ideology and class struggle,” Dahal said.
Referring to Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah and Dharan Sub Metropolitan City Mayor Harka Raj Rai, Dahal recalled that he had once called them flowers of democracy, but remarked that they now seem to be gradually turning into thorns. “I had called you flowers of our democracy. Now it feels like those flowers are slowly turning into thorns. Understand history, movements, and the blood of martyrs,” he said.
At the same programme, party co coordinator Madhav Nepal appealed to the public to give the NCP a majority in the upcoming elections. He said that if the people entrust the party with responsibility, it would be another major test for them, and urged voters to grant the party a clear mandate. “Give our party one chance,” Nepal said.
Nepal said the party fully supports calls raised by the younger generation, or Gen Z, for good governance and an end to corruption. He said the party has always fought against authoritarian steps such as banning social media and curtailing civil rights, and claimed that thousands of young people from the Gen Z generation are joining the party.
Recalling that the party has repeatedly submitted memorandums to the government and taken struggles to the people in support of good governance, Nepal pledged not to let down the trust of the youth. He also congratulated and thanked the new generation joining the party through various programmes.
