Split in the Nepal Communist Parties
DateAugust 2019 to September 2021
Location
Nepal
Caused byDifferences on leadership, power sharing, and ideologies
Parties
Others
Lead figures

At the end of 2020, a major split in the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) revived the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN (UML)) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) (CPN (MC)).[1][2]

A further split occurred within the CPN (Maoist Centre) when a group led by Ram Bahadur Thapa (Badal) joined CPN (UML).[3] Similarly, a group led by former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal split from CPN (UML) to form CPN (Unified Socialist).[4]

In December 2021, a small group led by Hridayesh Tripathi left CPN (UML) to form the People's Progressive Party.[5] Another group led by Senior Vice-president Bam Dev Gautam left CPN (UML) in September 2021 and is preparing to form a new party as of February 2022.[6][7]

Split in Nepal Communist Party

Internal conflict

During a party secretariat meeting on 21 August 2019, senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal issued a note of dissent regarding the divided party and criticized the two co-chairmen: KP Sharma Oli, the then prime minister, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Nepal's grievances with party leadership included their inability to expediently complete the merger between the former CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre), the two parties that had combined to form the NCP.[8] He also criticized Oli for not following the "One Leader, One Position" policy that the party had campaigned on and called for Oli to either resign as party leader or as prime minister.[8][9][10] Another meeting took place on 21 November 2019, when the party decided on moving forward with two party leaders, with Dahal holding the position of executive head of the party. The meeting also resulted in an agreement to allow Oli to complete his full term as prime minister.[11][12]

Another disagreement arose when factions in the party did not favor a grant that the government had previously negotiated with the United States under the Millennium Challenge Corporation.[13][14] The issue was resolved after a task force formed by the party decided to not endorse the proposed agreement as is.[15]

Criticism by party members led the Prime Minister Oli to reshuffle his cabinet in November 2019.[16][17][18][19]

In February 2020, Bam Dev Gautam was appointed as the party's vice-chairman after the party's central committee amended the party statute.[20] Party co-chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal criticized the Oli government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and leaders within the party urged senior leadership to call a meeting of the secretariat to discuss the government's work.[21][22] At the meeting of the secretariat, some leaders called on Oli's resignation, but a later meeting decided to allow Oli to stay on after he agreed to work under the party's instructions and let Dahal perform his duties as the party's executive leader.[23][24]

In August 2020, a panel tasked to resolve the party's internal dispute proposed that a national convention be held in April 2021 regarding party unity, a recommendation which was endorsed by the party's standing committee.[25][26]

Another cabinet reshuffle was done on 16 October 2020, and Oli was criticized by the party for not consulting them.[27]

On 14 November 2020, co-chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal presented a political document at a party secretariat meeting that accused KP Sharma Oli of not following the party's directions, unilaterally leading the government and turning a blind eye towards corruption.[28] In response, Oli attacked Dahal for not letting him run the government, promoting factionalism and nepotism, as well as preventing victims of the Nepalese Civil War from getting justice.[29][30]

Vertical split in NCP

On 20 December 2020, KP Sharma Oli called on President Bidhya Devi Bhandari to dissolve the House of Representatives and call for fresh elections.[31] In an address to the nation, Oli claimed that he dissolved the house because the party had not let him function as prime minister, and that a no-confidence motion was being prepared against him from within the party.[32] The decision was met with criticism within the party, and seven ministers close to the Dahal–Nepal faction in his cabinet resigned in protest.[33]

In December 2020, Oli called a meeting of central committee leaders close to him and added 556 new members to the existing 446-member central committee body. The new central committee was to organize a party unity convention in November 2021. The meeting also removed Narayan Kaji Shrestha as party spokesperson and replaced him with Pradeep Gyawali.[34][35]

At the same time as Oli expanded the central committee with his allies, the Dahal–Nepal faction of the party also organized its own central committee meeting with 310 members of the original central committee and replaced Oli as party co-chairman with Madhav Kumar Nepal.[36] The meeting also decided to protest against the government to restore the House of Representatives.[37][38]

Election Commission registry

After the merger of the CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre), the NCP registered with the Election Commission of Nepal on 7 June 2018 under the name "Nepal Communist Party (NCP)". While the nascent party attempted to register under "Nepal Communist Party", the Election Commission of Nepal had refused their application since there was already a party with that name, the Nepal Communist Party, a small group led by Rishi Kattel.[39][40][41] To get around the issue, the NCP added "(NCP)" to the end of its name,[42] which lead the party to become colloquially known as the "NCP Double".[43]

Following the split between the Oli and Dahal–Nepal factions, the Election Commission declined to recognize either faction as the legitimate holders of the NCP's registration.[44] On 8 March 2021, Nepal's Supreme Court stated that the allocation of the name "Nepal Communist Party" upon the merger of the CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre), and by extension the merger itself, was void ab initio, as the name was already allotted to the party led by Kattel, and that the NCP stood "dismissed".[42][45] Upon the ruling, the CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre) were revived in their state prior to the merger, although they could merge again if they wanted and followed procedure.

Split in Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)

Splits in the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)
DateMarch 2021
Location
Nepal
Caused byDifferences on
  • leadership
  • power sharing
  • ideologies
Parties
Lead figures

The CPN (Maoist Centre) party faced a split when the Members of House of Representatives—including Prabhu Sah, Gauri Shankar Chaudhary, Lekhraj Bhatta, former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, and two National Assembly members including former Home Minister Ram Bhadur Thapa and Chandra Bahadur Khadka—left the party to join the CPN (UML), along with Maoist leaders Dawa Lama Tamang and Mani Thapa, nine provincial assembly members, four mayors and nine rural municipality chairpersons.[46] Later on, provincial assembly members—including Tanka Angbuhan from Province No. 1, Ram Chandra Mandal, Jwala Kumari Sah, Kundan Prasad Kushwaha, Mohammad Samir from Madhesh Province, Dadhiram Neupane and Dinesh Panthi from Lumbini Province, Dharma Raj Regmi from Karnali Province, and Jhapat Bohara from Sudurpashchim Province—left the party.[47][48][49] Similarly, mayors of Rangeli Municipality, Katahariya Municipality, Bideha Municipality, and Maulapur Municipality left to join the CPN (UML).

The former members complained that party president Pushpa Kamal Dahal had stayed chairman for decades since he did not conduct general party conventions, that he was family-centric, and that he made party decisions as a dictator.

Splits in Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)

Splits in the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)
DateAugust 2021 to September 2021
Location
Nepal
Caused byDifferences on
  • leadership
  • power sharing
  • ideologies
Parties
Others
Lead figures

2021 vertical split

On 18 July 2021, 22 members of the House of Representatives from the CPN (UML) voted for Sher Bahadur Deuba as prime minister, defying the party whip.[50]

As a result, dispute rose among former prime ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Sharma Oli due to Madhav's faction supporting the government despite the party being in the opposition. On 18 August 2021, Madhav Kumar formed a new party called the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist).[51]

Former prime minister Jhalanatha Khanal, party vice presidents, and as many as 31 members of parliament (MPs) joined the new party. This constituted a split from the top to lower-level committees of the party.[4]

2021 minor splits

A minor group led by senior vice president Bamdev Gautam left the party on 4 September 2021.[7][52] Currently, they have registered a new party called the Communist Party of Nepal (Unity National Campaign).[53][54]

Another minor group, led by Hridayesh Tripathi along with MPs Brijesh Kumar Gupta and Ishwar Dayal Mishra also split away on 26 August 2021 and formed the People's Progressive Party.[55]

Aftermath

Governments at the central level and provincial level changed as a result of changes to the legislature. Other factions except CPN (UML) joined with Nepali Congress to stay in power, and Sher Bahadur Deuba was elected as the new prime minister of Nepal.

Changes in legislatures

Party Parliament Seats Faction Seats
Nepal Communist Party National Assembly
49 / 59
 CPN (UML)
27 / 59
CPN (Maoist Centre)
15 / 59
CPN (Unified Socialist)
7 / 275
People's Progressive Party
0 / 59
CPN (Unity National Campaign)
1 / 59
House of Representatives
174 / 275
 CPN (UML)
94 / 275
CPN (Maoist Centre)
49 / 275
CPN (Unified Socialist)
23 / 275
People's Progressive Party
2 / 275
[56]
CPN (Unity National Campaign)
2 / 275
[57]
Provincial Assembly
349 / 550
 CPN (UML)
178 / 550
CPN (Maoist Centre)
100 / 550
CPN (Unified Socialist)
54 / 550
People's Progressive Party
2 / 275
CPN (Unity National Campaign)
0 / 59

Dissolution and reinstatement of parliament

President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the House of Representatives per advice of the prime minister KP Sharma Oli on 20 December 2020.[58][59][60] Due to internal conflict in the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), Oli recommended the dissolution before a no-confidence motion could be passed.[61] The dissolution was challenged in the Supreme Court of Nepal, which passed a verdict reinstating the House of Representatives on 22 February 2021.[62]

Protests

On 8–10 January 2021, a two-day strike was held nationwide in protest at the government. A mass rally was held on 20–21 January 2021, when thousands took to the streets to protest the dissolution of parliament. Clashes took place between police and protesters.[63][64][65]

On 12 February 2021, Dr. Kedar Narsingh KC led a peaceful protest against Oli's decision to dissolve the House of Representatives, stating that the move was unconstitutional and would derail the development of democracy in the country.

Lawsuits

13 petitions were filed at the Supreme Court of Nepal challenging the constitutionality of the move. All petitions were heard by the constitutional bench, which includes the Chief Justice and 4 other justices (Anil Kumar Sinha, Bishowambhar Shrestha, Cholendra Shumsher Rana, Sapana Pradhan Malla, and Tej Bahadur KC). More than 300 lawyers participated against or in support of the cabinet decision in the discussion on the constitutional bench.[66] The bench declared the House dissolution unconstitutional on December 20 and called for parliamentary meeting to resume within 13 days.[62]

Reactions

One faction of the NCP, led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal, and Nepali Congress, the largest major opposition group, protested against the decision. Pushpa Kamal Dahal,[67] Gagan Thapa,[68] Sher Bahadur Deuba,[69] Bimalendra Nidhi,[70] and other prominent politicians deemed the move unconstitutional. Seven ministers from the Dahal–Nepal faction resigned in protest of the move.[71]

The Dahal–Nepal faction of NCP organized country-wide general protests against the decision on 4 February 2021. Arson and vandalism were reported due to the strike. The protestors have claimed that 77 protestors were detained within the valley.[72][73] In response to this strike, Oli held a mass assembly on 5 February 2021 in front of Narayanhiti Palace.[74][75]

India has maintained that this event is Nepal's internal matter.[76] China sent officials in an attempt to make peace between the two splintered factions of the NCP, which was unsuccessful.[77]

See also

    References

    1. ↑ "NCP Split And Missed Opportunity". GorakhaPatra. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
    2. ↑ "The (NCP) party's over". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
    3. ↑ "Anticlimax of CPN controversy: Badal a bonus to Oli in UML-Maoist 'divorce'". Nepal Press. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
    4. 1 2 "Nepal's main opposition CPN-UML splits as former PM Madhav Kumar Nepal forms new party". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
    5. ↑ Republica. "Hridayesh Tripathi announces new party". My Republica. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
    6. ↑ "Bam Dev Gautam to form new party". Setopati. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
    7. 1 2 "Bam Dev Gautam quits CPN-UML". GorakhaPatra. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
    8. 1 2 "Leader Nepal registers note of dissent". My Republica. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    9. ↑ "Nepal to counter Oli, Dahal with note of dissent". The Himalayan Times. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    10. ↑ "Nepal condemns Oli in dissent note". The Himalayan Times. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    11. ↑ "Oli to complete full term as PM". The Himalayan Times. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    12. ↑ "Dahal to command party while Oli will remain prime minister for the full term". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    13. ↑ "NCP meeting prolonged as some leaders seek clarity on MCC grant". My Republica. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    14. ↑ "MCC row set to resurface at NCP's CC meet". My Republica. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    15. ↑ "Amending the MCC Nepal compact could violate the Vienna Convention". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    16. ↑ Sharma, Gopal (21 November 2019). "Nepal's ailing Prime Minister Oli reshuffles his cabinet". Reuters (in French). Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    17. ↑ "Oli's Cabinet reshuffle aimed at managing party factions rather than improving results". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    18. ↑ "PM Oli reshuffles Cabinet in a bid to "fortify" govt". The Himalayan Times. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    19. ↑ Sharma, Bhadra. "No endorsement of MCC without revisions: NCP panel report". My Republica. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    20. ↑ "NCP amends party statute to make Bamdev Gautam vice-chair". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    21. ↑ "Oli government's fiascos provide opportunity for rival factions to pounce". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    22. ↑ "Ruling NCP leaders demand Secretariat meeting as govt faces widespread criticism". My Republica. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    23. ↑ "In a bid to buy more time, Oli dangles prime minister and party chair bait to Gautam and Nepal". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    24. ↑ "How the crisis in ruling party was averted and each leader got what they wanted". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    25. ↑ "Panel recommends ruling party jamboree in April but not everyone is convinced". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    26. ↑ "Dahal to steer NCP as executive Chairman, while Oli will focus on government affairs". My Republica. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    27. ↑ "NCP leaders term Cabinet reshuffle an example of PM's unilateral approach". The Himalayan Times. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    28. ↑ "At Secretariat meet, Dahal asks Oli to 'sacrifice' for saving party and republic". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    29. ↑ "Oli counters Dahal with 38-page salvo". The Himalayan Times. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    30. ↑ "Oli goes on the offensive as he responds to Dahal's allegations". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    31. ↑ "Oli sacrifices the constitution to save his skin". Recordnepal. Gyanu Adhikari. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
    32. ↑ Setopati, Setopati. "Preparations were on to register no confidence motion against me: PM Oli". Setopati. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
    33. ↑ "Seven ministers, all from the Dahal-Nepal faction in ruling party, resign". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
    34. ↑ "Oli announces 1,199-member general convention committee". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    35. ↑ "Oli-led NCP faction to hold party's 'unity' convention in November next year". My Republica. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    36. ↑ "Madhav Kumar Nepal Replaces Prime Minister KP Oli As Nepal Communist Party Chief". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
    37. ↑ "Dahal-Nepal faction expels KP Oli from post of NCP chairman". My Republica. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    38. ↑ "Madhav Nepal appointed chair of party by CC meeting convened by Dahal-Nepal". The Himalayan Times. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    39. ↑ "Unified party changes name after EC refuses to register as CPN underlined | Setopati – Nepal's Digital Newspaper". setopati.net. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
    40. ↑ "नामबाट अण्डरलाईन हट्यो (नेकपा) थपियो" [Underline removed from name (CPN) added]. gorkhapatraonline.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 3 June 2018.
    41. ↑ "NCP finally gets legal party status". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
    42. 1 2 "Supreme Court awards Nepal Communist Party to Rishiram Kattel". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
    43. ↑ Lal, C. K. "The Maoist cul-de-sac". My Republica. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
    44. ↑ "नेकपाको साबिककै विवरण कायम : दुवै पक्षले पाएनन् आधिकारिकता" [The same details of the CPN (Maoist) are maintained: neither side has received official recognition]. GorakhaPatra (in Nepali). Retrieved 25 January 2021.
    45. ↑ Ghimire, Yubaraj (8 March 2021). "Nepal top court quashes 2018 formation of ruling Nepal Communist Party". The Indian Express. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
    46. ↑ "Ruling, opposing parties clash over town conference in Rautahat". The Himalayan Times. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
    47. ↑ "माओवादी केन्द्रका प्रदेश सांसद न्यौपाने र पन्थी पदमुक्त". Online Khabar. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
    48. ↑ "माओवादीको कारबाहीपछि बोहराको प्रदेश सांसद खारेज". Naya Patrika. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
    49. ↑ "Online Khabar". Online Khabar. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
    50. ↑ "UML seeks clarification from 22 lawmakers who voted for Deuba during confidence vote". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
    51. ↑ "एमाले विभाजित : नेपालले दर्ता गरे नेकपा एमाले (समाजवादी), चुनाव चिह्न खुला किताब" [UML split: Nepal registers CPN-UML (Socialist), election symbol open book]. ekantipur.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 18 August 2021.
    52. ↑ "Bam Dev Gautam quits CPN-UML". Nepal Press. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
    53. ↑ "Bam Dev Gautam to form new party". Setopati. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
    54. ↑ "नयाँ पार्टी खोल्दै वामदेव" [Bamdev opening a new party]. Setopati (in Nepali). Retrieved 2 February 2022.
    55. ↑ "म नयाँ पार्टी गठनको तयारीमा छु: हृदयेश त्रिपाठी" [I am preparing to form a new party: Hridayesh Tripathi]. Setopati (in Nepali). Retrieved 17 September 2021.
    56. ↑ Hridayesh Tripathi and Brijesh Kumar Gupta
    57. ↑ His wife Tulsa Thapa and Maya Devi Neupane
    58. ↑ Sharma, Bhadra (20 December 2020). "Nepal Falls Into Political Turmoil. China and India Are Watching". New York Times. ProQuest 2471268328.
    59. ↑ Adhikari, Ankit; Masih, Niha (20 December 2020). "Nepal's parliament dissolved amid power struggle in the ruling party". Washington Post. ProQuest 2471342247.
    60. ↑ "President dissolves House, declares elections for April 30 and May 10". Kathmandu Post. 20 December 2020.
    61. ↑ Bhattarai, Kamal Dev. "Explainer: What Nepal Prime Minister Oli Hopes to Achieve by Dissolving Parliament". The Wire. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
    62. 1 2 House Reinstated, Kathmandu Post, 22 February 2021.
    63. ↑ "Nepal protests: Thousands march against move to dissolve parliament". BBC News. BBC. 29 December 2020.
    64. ↑ "Thousands protest in Nepal against PM dissolving Parliament". Al Jazeera. 29 December 2020.
    65. ↑ "Nepal nationwide protests to call for restoration of monarchy". Nikkei Asia. December 2, 2020.
    66. ↑ Ghimire, Binod (26 December 2020). "Constitutional Bench asks for reasons for House dissolution, seeks amicus curiae". The Kathmandu Post.
    67. ↑ "Nepal: Communist rival Prachanda says PM KP Sharma Oli should resign, repent". Hindustan Times. 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
    68. ↑ Thapa, Richa (2020-12-29). "We expect the judiciary to serve due justice: Gagan Thapa". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
    69. ↑ "House dissolution is unconstitutional, but we shouldn't influence court: Deuba". OnlineKhabar English News. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
    70. ↑ Republica. "NC leadership unanimous that PM's move is unconstitutional and undemocratic: Deuba". My Republica. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
    71. ↑ "Seven ministers, all from the Dahal-Nepal faction in ruling party, resign". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
    72. ↑ "Normal life paralysed in Nepal during general strike, 157 protesters arrested". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
    73. ↑ "Taxi set on fire, vehicles vandalised; over 70 arrested in Kathmandu during Dahal-Nepal faction general strike". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
    74. ↑ "Nepal PM Oli addresses huge rally, defends decision to dissolve House". The Indian Express. 2021-02-06. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
    75. ↑ GAUTAM, SKANDA (2021-02-05). "I've got the power: Oli supporters gather in thousands in central Kathmandu". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
    76. ↑ "Nepal PM's move to dissolve Parliament is 'internal matter', says India". Hindustan Times. December 24, 2020.
    77. ↑ Sharma, Gopal (December 27, 2020). "China sends top official to Nepal amid political crisis". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.
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