Kathmandu— KP Sharma Oli, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), and Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), have signed a three-point agreement to form provincial governments in Nepal. The deal comes after a series of splits, rivalries, and shifting political alliances within both parties, driven by internal crises and external pressures.

Historical Context of UML-NCP Relations

In the 2017 general election, the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) formed an electoral alliance that secured nearly a two-thirds majority in parliament. Following their victory, the two parties merged on May 17, 2018, to form the Nepal Communist Party (NCP). However, disputes over power-sharing agreements led to the revival of UML and Maoist Centre as separate entities in February 2021 after a Supreme Court ruling. Since then, both parties have experienced further splits and realignments, including the formation of the CPN (Unified Socialist) by a faction of UML in September 2021.

Criticism from Within

The latest agreement to forge an alliance at the provincial level has drawn criticism from some party leaders who argue that it was reached unilaterally without formal endorsement from their respective party committees. Gokarna Bista, a vice-chair of CPN-UML, told The Rising Nepal, “There has been no institutional discussion within the party regarding UML-NCP cooperation.” He expressed dissatisfaction with how major decisions are often made through individual whims rather than formal internal party consensus.

Defending the Alliance

Leaders of both political parties have defended their partnership, arguing that cooperation among left-wing parties is necessary. Narayan Kaji Shrestha from NCP said, “This time, we wanted the governments in the provinces led by the NC and UML to continue.” Mahendra Bahadur Shahi added, “Nepal’s left forces needed to unite to protest the country’s political system and national interest.” However, critics argue that the alliance is driven primarily by the pursuit of political power rather than ideological unity.

Long-Term Viability

While some leaders view the current cooperation as a step towards long-term left unity, others are skeptical. Political analyst Hari Roka said, “The largest grassroots political base in Nepal still belongs to the left, particularly communist forces.” However, he noted that the communist parties have moved away from ideological and theoretical debate, suggesting they should follow proper processes by holding discussions within their organizations before reaching such agreements.

(With inputs from Rising Nepal)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.