- Nepal's major Left parties, CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre), are holding high-level talks for a potential merger following disappointing election results.
- Leaders KP Sharma Oli and Prachanda will publicly share a stage, signaling a strategic reconciliation after years of political rivalry.
- Prachanda stressed that while an immediate merger is unlikely, collaboration is vital for navigating the current political climate and structural changes.
- Analysts warn that significant trust deficits and power-sharing disagreements remain major bottlenecks to finalizing a formal unification.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepal’s major Left political forces have initiated high-level negotiations for a potential merger, spurred by disappointing results in the last House of Representatives elections and shifting dynamics in the country's political landscape.
Political sources confirm that formal and informal dialogues have intensified between the CPN (UML), led by KP Sharma Oli, and the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), coordinated by Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'. Although a concrete consensus on the ideological foundation, leadership structure, and organizational framework remains unreached, representatives from both factions have held several rounds of discussions and expressed optimism about moving forward together.
The move comes years after a tumultuous partnership. In 2018, the CPN (UML) and the CPN (Maoist Centre) merged to form the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), under a dual-chairmanship shared by Oli and Prachanda. However, that unity collapsed due to intense leadership disputes and a subsequent landmark ruling by the Supreme Court. While both leaders frequently criticized each other in public following the split, recent electoral pressures have driven them back toward strategic cooperation.
A high-profile panel discussion in Kathmandu this Sunday, marking the 75th birth anniversary of the late communist leader Madan Bhandari, is being closely watched as a gauge of this reconciliation. Organized by the Madan Bhandari Foundation at the Rastriya Sabha Griha, the event—titled "Nepal's Communist Movement and Popular Leader Madan Bhandari"—will see Oli and Prachanda share a stage for the first time in years.
Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari will attend as the chief guest. Other high-profile attendees include NCP Co-coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal, veteran leader Jhalanath Khanal, and Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav. Political analysts view this joint appearance as a carefully coordinated effort to signal solidarity to the communist cadre base.
The public posturing for unity was further highlighted on Friday when Prachanda addressed his party's Koshi Province Committee meeting in Biratnagar. He emphasized that collaboration with the CPN (UML) is vital in the current political climate, both within parliament and on the streets. Prachanda noted that while an immediate merger is unlikely, the groundwork for cooperation is solid and discussions are progressing well.
Reflecting on his career of navigating political turning points, Prachanda hinted at another major shift during his party's upcoming general convention, characterizing it as the "final breakthrough" of his political life and urging party cadres to prepare for structural changes.
Despite the optimistic rhetoric, independent political analysts caution that a formal merger may take considerable time. They point out that deeply entrenched trust deficits, past grievances, and complex power-sharing arrangements remain significant bottlenecks for both leadership tiers.
