Following an editorial review of the summary sourced from news reports, the National Youth Union of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) has demanded the release of party Chairman KP Sharma Oli and detained party activists. The UML Secretariat has resolved to focus on updating the voter lists and hold a protest rally on April 25. After Oli’s arrest, the party expressed confidence in the legal process and the Supreme Court, deciding to stage a concentrated power demonstration in the capital on April 20.
On March 24 in Kathmandu, the National Youth Union of Nepal, affiliated with CPN-UML, convened a meeting of office bearers. The meeting demanded the release of Chairman KP Sharma Oli and other UML activists in custody. “The party chairman has been arrested. When we protested demanding his release, other activists were also detained,” said Maharaj Gurung, President of the Youth Union. “We have raised the demand with the government to release all leaders and activists who were detained unlawfully.”
The statement issued after the meeting extended demands beyond the release of Oli and detained leaders, including controlling fuel price hikes, releasing individuals arrested on charges of hooliganism, and stopping cyberbullying targeting party supporters. Gurung also criticized the Home Minister, who is embroiled in land-related controversies, and highlighted numerous other irregularities as points of objection.
The meeting resolved to prepare for a protest rally on April 25. “Currently, no protests are being planned to prevent further public distress,” he added. Following Oli’s arrest from his residence on April 6, UML activists, including the Youth Union, staged protests for three days. On the day of the arrest, Secretary Mahesh Basnet announced ongoing agitation. As a trusted ally of Oli, Basnet’s statements were closely observed. However, contrary to his warning, the protests did not continue consistently. Minor demonstrations occurred on April 6 and 7, but on April 8, a street protest was held under the banner of the Bagmati Province Committee.
Subsequently, the party leadership appeared to shift focus from demanding Oli’s release to expressing dissatisfaction with government decisions and attempting to resolve internal disputes. The circular issued by General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel on April 24 also reflected internal instability within UML. He directed all provincial and district chairpersons to give attention to updating voter lists. The party’s internal decisions demonstrate a complicated situation.
At the secretariat meeting held on April 9, revisions to statements made by parliamentary party leader Ram Bahadur Thapa, expressing objections to government decisions, and other resolutions were adopted. Particularly, Thapa’s remarks during the parliamentary session on April 8, alleging that Nepal’s army, government employees, the administration led by Sushila Karki, and foreign powers were colluding to defeat UML, had damaged the party’s image and prompted an emergency secretariat meeting. The meeting not only addressed the crisis caused by Thapa’s comments but also discussed questions raised within the parliamentary party.
Further, the party’s decision to block Suhang Nembang’s nomination as the parliamentary party leader reportedly increased dissatisfaction within the party. Youth factions have been demanding General Secretary Pokhrel’s resignation and calling for leadership restructuring through demonstrations. This indicates a softening stance of UML towards the younger generation.
Appeals made to the general public to join street protests against Oli’s arrest have had limited effectiveness. Without broad public support, most UML leaders and activists are confined to statements and social media reactions. The post-meeting statement clearly appealed: “All party ranks are called upon to respect decisions made by democratic processes and refrain from making contrary comments. The party has taken seriously the constructive suggestions that have come from youth factions.”
Similarly, the activities of the student organization ANNFSU appear weak. On April 8, ANNFSU issued a statement wishing well to SEE examinees, and another statement signed by President Deepak Dhami condemned the government’s decision to dissolve student organizations at universities.
Party leaders acknowledge that UML did not capitalize on the wave of societal reaction following Chairman Oli’s arrest. “We used to warn that touching KP Oli would paralyze the country, but after his arrest, we failed to apply sufficient pressure,” a leader admitted. However, Media Coordinator Min Bahadur Shahi stated that party activities are continuing as per schedule. “We are not silent; programs are ongoing according to the circular,” he said. “The matter is in court, and meetings are being held inside the party.”
After three secretariat meetings, the leadership’s approach since Oli’s arrest has leaned towards soft and broad-based programs, with confidence placed more in legal processes and the Supreme Court than street protests. This indication was evident from the first meeting’s decisions. Despite warnings from some leaders about nationwide disruptions, the secretariat resolved to submit memorandums through district administrations and assign demonstrations to affiliated mass organizations. On April 7, the memorandum was submitted nationwide through senior administrative offices.
Additional decisions included seeking cooperation with other political parties, raising objections in Parliament, and pursuing legal battles. Responsibilities for coordination and communication were assigned to Bishnu Prasad Paudel, parliamentary opposition to Ram Bahadur Thapa, and legal coordination to Gokarna Bista. However, these efforts have produced no concrete results. The Supreme Court has not issued any orders regarding habeas corpus petitions, and statements have seen continuous extensions. The Congress Party’s internal conflicts and the lack of a joint front with other parties have weakened these efforts. Thapa’s controversial statements have further compounded the crisis.
Due to lacking public support, appeals for street protests have yielded limited participation. The party’s institutional decisions also show diminished confidence in public demonstrations. At the secretariat meeting on April 9, a decision was made to stage a power demonstration on April 25. According to the plan, district-level worker gatherings and training will take place on April 12, municipal-level meetings on April 15, and ward-level meetings on April 17. Province-level demonstrations will be held on April 20, culminating in a centralized power rally in the capital.
This will be UML’s first high-level power demonstration a month after Oli’s detention. “We are facing the greatest crisis in the party’s history. The public has largely lost faith in us. At such a time, self-reflection rather than fiery rhetoric is necessary. The only option is to regain the people’s trust and move forward,” a leader said.
In the February 4 elections, UML suffered unprecedented losses. Oli’s arrest has deepened the crisis, and inconsistencies in party decisions have also become apparent. Meanwhile, a signature campaign demanding a special general convention has been initiated. Advocates argue, “Secretariat or Central Committee alone cannot resolve UML’s crisis; a special general convention must be called.”
