KATHMANDU, Aug 4: Nepal's major political parties are increasingly being consumed by internal power struggles, with factional disputes overshadowing governance and weakening party unity.
The ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which emerged as the largest force in the House of Representatives after securing a near two-thirds majority in the March 5 election, has been embroiled in internal conflict just months after taking power.
Relations between party President Rabi Lamichhane and Prime Minister Balendra Shah, the party's senior leader, have reportedly deteriorated. Lamichhane had wanted Dol Prasad Aryal to become deputy prime minister and home minister, but Shah opposed the proposal, leading Aryal to become Speaker instead. Most ministers in the current Cabinet are considered Shah's picks.
Following the party's general convention in June, Shah reportedly wanted to reshuffle the Cabinet, but sources close to the party say Lamichhane blocked the move. The convention also exposed deep factional divisions, with leaders split into two camps during the election of office bearers.
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Disagreements have since widened over the government's performance and party affairs. Tensions escalated after the party statute granted the chairman the authority to remove the parliamentary party leader, pushing the dispute from internal meetings to Parliament and the party's central committee.
The Kaptanganj incident in Sunsari further exposed differences within the RSP. While Lamichhane convened an all-party meeting after communal tensions escalated, Prime Minister Shah skipped the gathering, fuelling speculation of growing mistrust between the two leaders. Leaders close to the prime minister even suspect Lamichhane of trying to undermine the government.
The opposition Nepali Congress is also facing a deep internal divide. The party remains split between the leadership elected through the special general convention and the old establishment, with the rival faction demanding representation in the new executive committee. Dissatisfied leaders have formed a national gathering committee under Shashank Koirala and are considering launching a new party if reconciliation efforts fail.
The CPN-UML is facing mounting tensions following its electoral defeat. Senior leaders have begun openly challenging party Chairman KP Sharma Oli, while the arrest of vice chairman Bishnu Prasad Paudel in a money laundering case has further strained internal trust.
Disputes have also intensified over UML's agreement to share power with the Nepali Communist Party (NCP). In Koshi Province, Chief Minister Hikmat Karki has refused to step down despite instructions from the party leadership, delaying the formation of a new provincial government. Similar disagreements have surfaced in other provinces.
The power sharing deal has also triggered dissatisfaction within the NCP. Senior leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal have questioned the party's direction, with Khanal even calling for party Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal to step aside. Dahal has acknowledged that the party made mistakes in treating the formation and collapse of governments as political success.
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is also grappling with internal discord. Several leaders, including Dhawal Shamsher Rana, have left the party, while differences persist over policy priorities, power sharing and the delayed integration of Kamal Thapa's faction.
Amid the turmoil in the major parties, seven smaller political forces are preparing to launch a new progressive front on August 8. The alliance will include the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal, Janamat Party, Aam Janata Party, Progressive Democratic Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party Nepal, Nepal Sanghiya Samajbadi Party Party and Bahujan Ekata Party.
