Nepal: Political history
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Republican and secular
EC moderates pro-monarch, pro-Hindu state RPP
Nepal EC junks `Hindu state' clause from party's statute, Mar 19 2017: The Times of India
Nepal's poll watchdog has decided to remove “Hindu state and monarchy“ clauses from the statute of the pro-monarch and proHindu Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), saying that they contradicted constitutional provisions of a republican system and secularism.
The election commission's (EC) decision sparked a protest from the party with deputy prime minister and minister for federal affairs and local development Kamal Thapa urging the EC to correct its decision.
“The EC has robbed the party of its soul by deleting a section about Hindu state and monarchy off the party's statute,“ said Thapa, also the chairman of RPP.
The EC decided to remove the portion that advocates Hindu state and monarchy from the RPP statute, saying the sections contradicted constitutional provisions of republican order.
The party termed the decision as “unconstitutional“ and decided to challenge it in a court. “The EC's decision to remove some sections of its charter was unconstitutional as the Constitution had ensured ideological freedom,“ said the party . RPP has been campaigning for reinstatement of a Hindu state since Nepal became a secular nation through a parliament declaration in 2008, when monarchy was abolished following the success of a people's movement.
“The RPP does not accept the decision which would forbid the party's principal norm, and requests the EC to rethink the decision,“ RPP spokesperson Roshan Karki said. The party has also decided to launch a nationwide street movement demanding reinstatement of the Hindu state.
Government, changes in
2024, July
July 13, 2024: The Times of India
From: July 13, 2024: The Times of India
Kathmandu : K P Sharma Oli is set to become Nepal’s PM once again after incumbent PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ failed to win a trust vote in parliament after surviving four times in the past, amidst frequent political turmoil in the Himalayan nation. Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) chairman Oli Friday staked claim to lead a new majority govt before President Ramchandra Paudel with the support of 165 lawmakers, including 77 from his party and 88 from Nepali Congress (NC).
Although fringe parties, including Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), JSP-Nepal, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party are in favour of the Congress-UML coalition, Oli staked claim showing the support of only UML and Congress. “We have staked claim for the new govt before the prez. It’s up to him to decide when to make the appointment,” said Ramesh Lekhak, Congress chief whip.
Prachanda, also chairman of Communist Party of NepalMaoist Centre (CPN-MC), faced the vote as the Oli-led CPNUML withdrew support from his govt last week after inking a power-sharing deal with the largest party in the House, NC, led by Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Prachanda, 69, lost his position, over 18 months after his appointment on Dec 25, 2022, as he failed to secure a vote of confidence during a floor test in the House of Representatives. He failed to secure the 138 votes required to endorse the trust motion as only 63 lawmakers voted in his favour in the 275-strong House of Representatives. A total of 194 lawmakers voted against him.
Deuba has endorsed Oli as the next PM as per a 7-point deal both parties agreed upon Monday before toppling Prachanda‘s govt. According to the deal, Oli and Deuba will share the premiership during the remaining period of the House; in the first phase Oli will become PM for one and a half years and then, Deuba will take the post for rest of the period. PTI
Nepal-origin refugees from Bhutan
1980s- 2022
Yubaraj Ghimire, May 16, 2023: The Indian Express
For over three decades, Nepal has been home to more than 120,000 Bhutanese refugees, who left their country after Bhutan’s government put certain restrictions on the religious and cultural practices — and even dress — of people of Nepali origin, in the 1980s.
India, where the refugees first reached, was not welcoming, and quickly pushed them to Nepal. This was in 1989, when India-Nepal relations had hit a trough after the Rajiv Gandhi government imposed an 18-month economic blockade on Nepal, ostensibly to punish it for buying weapons from China. Over a decade from 1992 onward, Nepal and Bhutan held 15 rounds of talks on the repatriation of the refugees, which yielded no results. India refused to mediate, and asked its neighbours to sort out the issue between themselves.
At this stage, seven western countries — the US, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Australia — agreed to take in a total 113,307 Bhutanese. After this process ended in 2019, a committee set up by the government of then Prime Minister K P Oli recommended there were still 429 individuals who were eligible for third-country settlement, and that they should be issued refugee identity cards.
However, the alleged syndicate corrupted the list, targeting vulnerable individuals on it, and trying to inflate it by claiming many refugees had been left out of the resettlement process. Huge sums of money allegedly exchanged hands on the promise of a smooth flight abroad.
Arrests and uproar
When the plans of some of those who had paid did not work out, they complained to the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Nepal’s constitutional anti-corruption body, and the police. The alleged victims said they paid Rs 1-5 million as “part or advance” payment for resettlement overseas. Earlier this month, an arrest warrant was issued for Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, who was Deputy Prime Minister in the government of K P Sharma Oli. Rayamajhi, who was suspended as secretary of Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) on May 10, is absconding; his son Sandeep Rayamajhi is under arrest.
Keshab Dulal, an aide to Nepali Congress leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala, was the first to be arrested and interrogated. Indrajit Rai, a former member of Nepal’s constituent assembly who was security adviser to Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’, Oli’s Home Minister in 2018-21, was arrested on May 2. Balkrishna Khand, the Nepali Congress leader, was arrested on May 10.
Badal’s son Prateek Thapa is said to be on the “wanted” list for involvement in the racket.
Despite several corruption scandals over the past decade and a half of loktantra, Parliament has rarely debated graft, or sought to hold the government accountable. However, the refugee scam was seen as devaluing Nepal’s sovereignty itself, with protesters being called traitors.
Amaresh Kumar Singh, the independent lawmaker who took off his shirt in Parliament, had earlier alleged that Nepal was being run by “Pampha Devis”, a reference to an allegation from three decades ago that the country’s then Queen Aishwarya had stashed away money in Swiss banks in the fictitious name of “Pampha Devi”.
Political fallout
The protests over the refugee scam has for the first time challenged the impunity that leaders in both government and opposition have traditionally enjoyed in the House. The scandal has become an emotive issue of nationalism, with the alleged traffickers — including politicians and bureaucrats — being seen as trading in human beings for financial gain.
Facing the heat, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on May 11 put on hold a licence to set up a private stock exchange in the country amidst allegations that the process may not have been entirely transparent. While Prachanda continues to put on a brave face over the trafficking scandal, he probably realises that the breach in the political arrangement of ‘impunity to all’ could ultimately see the floodgates being opened, with his own name featuring in several alleged scams. The probe into the refugee scam could trigger the beginning of many other investigations, which may threaten the political careers of top leaders of all major parties.
YEAR-WISE DEVELOPMENTS
2001-2009
State of turmoil
From the archives of "India Today", 2009
June 2001: King Birendra,Queen Aishwarya and other close relatives killed in a shooting spree by Crown Prince Dipendra, who then shoots himself. Gyanendra is crowned Nepal King.
May 2002: Parliament dissolved and fresh elections are called over extending emergency. Sher Bahadur Deuba heads interim government and renews emergency.
April 2006: The King agrees to reinstate Parliament following protests. G.P. Koirala appointed prime minister. Maoists declare a ceasefire.
May 2006: Parliament curtails the King’s powers. Government and Maoists begin talks.
November 2006: Maoists and the government sign accord and declare a formal end to a 10-year insurgency.
January 2007: Maoist leaders enter Parliament under a temporary constitution.
December 2007: Parliament approves abolition of monarchy as part of peace deal with Maoists.
April 2008: Maoists win the largest number of seats in the new Constituent Assembly.
May 2008: Nepal becomes a republic.
August 2008: Prachanda forms coalition government and the Nepali Congress becomes the Opposition.
May 2009: Prachanda resigns citing the “unconstitutional and undemocratic” move by the President to stop the government from sacking the army chief.
2017
May 2017: Resignation by "Prachanda"
Nepalese PM quits, makes way for Deuba, May 25, 2017: The Times of India
Nepal PM Prachanda resigned after a brief stint of nine months, honouring an understanding with the ruling coalition partner Nepali Congress to hand over the country's leadership to the largest party in Parliament.
His resignation has cleared way for his former rival and Nepali Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba, whose appointment is likely to be confirmed in a parliamentary vote within the next 10 days.Prachanda said he had followed a balanced foreign policy and succeeded in normalising relations with his neighbouring countries.
Impeachment motion against CJ; Dy PM quits
Impeachment motion against Nepal chief justice, dy PM quits, The Times of India, May 01 2017
Nepal's first woman Chief Justice Sushila Karki was suspended after an impeachment motion against her was registered in Parliament by two major ruling parties that accused her of “interfering“ with the executive and issuing “prejudiced“ verdicts.
As a fallout of the impeachment motion registered by the lawmakers of the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre), deputy Prime Minister and minister for home affairs Bimalendra Nidhi resigned over his dissatisfaction with the move. A close associate of Nidhi told reporters that he has serious reservations over the move. Nidhi leads the Nepali Congress, the largest constituent of the current ruling coalition, in the Cabinet. Karki (64) was automatically suspended after the registration of the motion.
Nepali Congress lawmaker Min Bishwokarma and CPN (Maoist Centre) chief whip Tek Bahadur Basnet, among other lawmakers, registered the motion in the Parliament secretariat on Sunday afternoon.
A total of 249 lawmakers from the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre) have signed the motion which has accused Karki of “interfering in the jurisdiction of the executive and failing to issue verdicts without being prejudiced“.
Deputy Prime Minister and minister for local development Kamal Thapa also expressed his displeasure over the impeachment motion. In a tweet, Thapa said the move was objectionable and unfortunate.
Landslide victory for Communist parties
Nepal’s Communist parties were headed for a landslide win in elections seen as a turning point after two decades of conflict, political instability and disaster that have crippled the Himalayan country.
The landmark elections for national and provincial parliaments capped Nepal’s 11-year transition from monarchy to federal democracy after a brutal civil war. Many hope they will usher in a much-needed period of stability in the impoverished country, which has cycled through 10 prime ministers since 2006.
An alliance of the main Communist party and the country’s former Maoist rebels is expected to form the next government, ousting the ruling centrist Nepali Congress. “If Congress had done good work, it would not be wiped out like this from the country. The people are giving these parties a chance but if they do nothing for the country, they will also be wiped out,” said one voter.
The Himalayan Times said the leftist alliance’s strong mandate meant the country “could experience political stability,” which it has lacked over the last decade, but cautioned that a strong opposition was also crucial in the young democracy.
With counting still going on, the alliance has won 105 seats in the national parliament, according to preliminary data from the election commission. The incumbent Nepali Congress has won just 21. That puts the alliance on course for a hefty majority in the country’s 275-seat parliament.
The assembly is made up of 165 directly-elected seats, while the rest are allocated on a proportional representation basis, guaranteeing seats for women, people from indigenous communities and the lowest Dalit caste.
The Communist bloc is also leading in six out of seven provincial assemblies mandated in a new national constitution. The charter was finally agreed by parliament in 2015 in a rare moment of cross-party consensus, months after the country was devastated by a powerful earthquake. It laid the ground for a sweeping overhaul of the political system to devolve power from the centre to newly-created provinces. It was intended to build on the promise of a more inclusive society, integral to the 2006 peace deal that ended the decade-long civil war between Maoists and the state.
2018
Nepal’s communists unite to form biggest left party
May 18, 2018: The Times of India
The main group of Nepal’s Maoist former rebels and the liberal Communist UML party merged on Thursday to form the Himalayan republic’s biggest left party in a move likely to upset India but have China rejoicing.
Officials said the two constituents of the ruling coalition had formed the Nepal Communist Party, which now heads the nation’s first majority government in 19 years.
In 2017- general elections, the two parties had formed a rare electoral alliance, defeating the centrist pro-India Nepali Congress party. The two have now come together to form the Nepal Communist Party which is considered to be closer to China and controls 174 seats in the 275 member parliament.
Nepal, a natural buffer between China and India, had 10 government changes after the abolition of monarchy in 2008. Fickle coalitions retarded growth and slowed reconstruction after a devastating earthquake killed 9,000 people in 2015.
Nepal’s PM, K P Sharma Oli, who is also the UML chief and Maoist supremo, Prachanda, who led a decadelong armed conflict against state forces, will co-chair the new group until political delegates elect a new leader in two years, party officials said.
“We are committted to ... economic prosperity with social justice,” Prachanda said announcing the formation of the new party before hundreds of cheering supporters.
Earlier, Oli held a joint meeting of the unified party at the PM’s official residence in Baluwatar. At the meeting, central members of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) took the oath of office and secrecy, following which Oli and Prachanda administered the oath of office and secrecy to each other. As per the terms of agreement of the unification of the two parties, Oli and Dahal will lead the unified party and a nine-member secretariat, and enjoy equal power.
It was also decided to transfer all the properties registered in the name of CPNUML and CPN-Maoist Centre to the new party.
After the meeting, top leaders went to the Election Commission to inform it about the unification of the two parties into a new party, the Nepal Communist Party. The new election symbol is a “sun”, which was the election symbol of the CPN-UML, according to a senior leader of the CPN-Maoist Centre, Sunil Manandhar.
Leading political analyst Bipin Adhikari said the coming together of the Maoists with an “ultra left” past and the UML’s moderate stance was a “remarkable political development” in a country where the communists had split dozens of times since their movement was launched 70 years ago. “The unification of two communist parties as a very strong nationalist bloc will define the future of democracy and political stability,” Adhikari said.
“How sustainable this (unity) will be remains to be seen,” he said referring to months of tough haggling between Prachanda and Oli for positions in the new party.
Analysts said the unification would have regional implications as giants China and India jostle for influence with aid and investment in infrastructure like roads and hydroelectric power plants.
“India has always remained concerned about the rise of Communist forces in Nepal. Now that a strong left party leads the government here, these concerns will only grow in future,” said Guna Raj Luintel, editor of the Nagarik daily. “On the other hand, China will be happy because the united party will be naturally closer to Beijing,” he said.
Naga groups reject secessionist agenda
Prabin Kalita, September 12, 2018: The Times of India
Civil society and political parties in Nagaland are moving away from the “old idea” of secession at a time when the Naga peace talks are said to be approaching their conclusive stage.
A “Declaration of the Naga Collective Spirit” — signed by 11 key Naga civil society groups and all key political parties in the state — calls for a non-violent approach to the Naga process that aids “national construction”. This is a departure from the two major demands at the centre of the Naga peace talks — a separate Naga state and unification of Naga-inhabited areas, including the neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. “Honouring Naga historical and political rights is not at the expense of our neighbours’ rights. Similarly, upholding our neighbours’ rights cannot be at the expense of Naga rights,” the declaration, issued on Saturday, said.
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), which had led the Naga movement, signed a framework agreement with the centre in 2015. Last year, six former rebel outfits — which call themselves Naga National Political Groups — also entered the peace process with the Centre. The Khaplang faction of NSCN is now the only rebel outfit not party to the peace negotiations.
A key signatory to the declaration, who did not want to be named, said, “What the people of Nagaland see now is the need to talk about national construction.” He added, “All ethnic groups have the right to self-determination, but this term is associated with the sovereignty of the people. The idea of secession is not a positive thing.”
While the declaration tacitly undermines the NSCN (IM)’s core demands, the signatories said they did not feel the need to have the outfit on board to make a statement about the peace process.
A declaration signed by 11 key Naga civil society groups and all key political parties in Nagaland calls for ‘national construction’, a departure from two major demands — a separate Naga state and unification of Naga-inhabited areas
2021
Main communist party splits officially
August 20, 2021: The Times of India
Nepal’s main opposition CPN-UML, the largest communist party of the country, has officially split, with one of its factions led by dissident leader Madhav Kumar Nepal applying for registeration of a new political party. Madhav Kumar Nepal submitted an application at the Election Commission for registering his party named CPN-UML (Socialist), bringing to end a long-standing feud between him and former PM K P Sharma Oli. Earlier on Wednesday, President Bidya Devi Bhandari issued an ordinance to amend the Political Parties Act 2071, aimed at easing the procedure for political parties to split. The amendment ordinance stipulates that 20% or more members of the party’s parliamentary and central committees of a party can split their mother party. Previously, the act required dissidents to have the support of 40% of members for split. PTI
SC reinstates House of Representatives
February 23, 2021: The Times of India
Nepal's Supreme Court reinstates dissolved House of Representatives
KATHMANDU: Nepal's Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives, in a setback to embattled Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli who was preparing for snap polls.
A five-member Constitutional bench led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JBR annulled the government's decision to dissolve the 275-member lower house of parliament and ordered the government to summon the House session within the next 13 days.
Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 after President Bidya Dev Bhandari dissolved the House of Representatives at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, amidst a tussle for power within the ruling party.
Oli's move to dissolve the House sparked protests from a large section of the Nepal Communist Party led by his rival Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', also a co-chair of the ruling party.
Oli repeatedly defended his move to dissolve the House of Representatives, saying some leaders of his party were attempting to form a "parallel government".
As many as 13 writ petitions including the one by the ruling Nepal Communist Party's Chief Whip Dev Prasad Gurung were filed at the apex court seeking the restoration of the lower house parliament.
SC orders Deuba to be made PM
Sachin Parashar, July 13, 2021: The Times of India
Nepal PM K P Sharma Oli was finally grounded with a five-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court reinstating the parliament, which was dissolved at Oli’s behest in May allowing him to continue as PM, and further ordering President Bidya Bhandari to appoint opposition Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba as PM by 5 pm.
Talking to TOI from Kathmandu, ruling CPN-UML senior leader and former foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali described the court order as unexpected and one that was contrary to the “fundamental principles of Nepal’s Constitution” saying it will have far- reaching consequences for democracy in the country. Gyawali added though that Oli will abide by the court order even if it was “wrong and unjustifiable”.
“The constitution ensures balance of power among the three organs of the state — executive, judiciary and parliament. Judiciary usurping the right of parliament by appointing PM cannot be good for norms of democracy,” said Gyawali. The court decision is the latest of the twists in Nepal where decisions taken by Bhandari, seen as an ally of Oli, have been overturned by the judiciary.
With its apparent hands-off approach to political turmoil in Nepal, India refrained from putting out any official reaction to the development. Official sources said they were still studying the implications of the dramatic court ruling. Gyawali said the SC order was an internal matter of Nepal. “But, yes, if it creates instability, it won’t help anybody,” he said.
Oli’s position had become untenable after Deuba staked claim to form government with support from 149 MPs in the 275-member House of Representatives. President Bhandari though dissolved the House and announced elections in November, allowing Oli to continue as PM until then.
While Deuba will have 30 days to prove majority, whether or not he can actually do it will depend on the ruling UML faction led by Madhav Kumar Nepal who has 23 MPs with him. These MPs had supported Deuba’s petition in the SC to appoint him PM. While Madhav Nepal was said to have arrived at an agreement with Oli a few days ago for the sake of party unity, he welcomed the court order.
According to a report in Kathmandu Post, Monday’s order followed 30 writ petitions, including one filed by 146 lawmakers of the House, demanding that the court issue a mandamus order to the president to appoint Deuba PM. “The Constitutional Bench has issued the writ as per the demands of the writ petitioners,” a spokesperson of the Supreme Court was quoted as saying.
