KATHMANDU, Nov 23: CPN-UML, in what many observers view as a desperate show of strength, staged a protest rally in Kathmandu on Saturday against the September 12 dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR).
Addressing supporters, party chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli repeated his demand that the dissolved HoR be reinstated—an insistence analysts warn could jeopardise the smooth conduct of the March 5 election.
The rally came just a day after the party announced the formation of a defensive unit named the National Volunteer Force, to be led by Pushparaj Shrestha, who has been convicted of multiple crimes including kidnapping and unlawful detention. Oli defended the new outfit, saying there was “no need to fear insecurity from the organisation.”
I respect and welcome the Supreme Court’s verdict to reinstate...
Political analysts cautioned that UML’s escalating confrontational approach—guided by what appears to be a belief that “offense is the best defence”—risks eroding public trust and destabilising the electoral atmosphere. “The party’s insistence on reinstating the dissolved HoR could backfire, making it harder for UML to regain voter confidence ahead of the polls,” said political scientist Prof Krishna Pokharel.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress (NC)—the largest party in the dissolved lower house—formally announced on Saturday that it will contest the March 5 election, signalling its readiness to proceed with the electoral process despite UML’s protests.
Analyst Pokharel noted that UML’s aggressive posture stems partly from pressure on its top leadership, which faces serious accusations including responsibility for the deaths of innocent civilians during the September 8 protests. “UML appears convinced that being offensive is the safest political strategy at present. The party is working under the belief that offense is the best form of defence,” he said.
Pokharel added that NC’s decision to participate in the election increases pressure on UML to recalibrate its strategy. “If UML wants to regain credibility, it should focus on organisational strengthening and prepare seriously for the polls.”
Another political analyst Chandra Dev Bhatta echoed concerns about the absence of political clarity across parties and an increasingly fractured political landscape. “The March 5 election is the only viable way out of the current uncertainty, but UML’s insistence on reinstating the HoR risks further disorder,” he said. “Since parliamentarians have already lost legitimacy, it is in UML’s best interest to join the polls and help create a conducive environment.”
Bhatta added that UML should prioritise election preparedness and actively mobilise youth in its campaign.
