Political Realignment in Nepal: Key Figures Excluded from Overnight Agreement
An overnight negotiation between Rabi Lamichhane, the chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Balendra Shah, the Mayor of Kathmandu, has resulted in a significant political understanding. However, the agreement, finalized in the early hours of Sunday, notably excludes Kulman Ghising, the patron of the Ujyalo Nepal Party, from its scope.
Sources close to the discussions indicate that Ghising had departed from the venue before the finalization of the pact, as the marathon talks between Lamichhane and Shah extended through the night. The trilateral meeting, intended to forge a broader alliance of alternative political forces, reportedly stalled due to a lack of consensus, prompting Ghising’s early exit.
Mayor Shah had, in recent days, actively advocated for an arrangement that would incorporate Ghising into the proposed coalition. This push, however, was met with internal resistance. On Saturday, the central committee of the Ujyalo Nepal Party rejected a proposal for a unified front led by Lamichhane as party chairman, with Shah as the prime ministerial candidate. This decision appears to have created a rift, leading to subsequent developments.
Following the Ujyalo Nepal Party’s central committee decision, Shah and Ghising held a private meeting on Saturday evening at Baluwatar. Details of their discussion remain undisclosed. Dr. Abhishek Singh, a central committee member of the Ujyalo Nepal Party, who has maintained contact with both the RSP and Mayor Shah, confirmed the meeting but stated, “They held talks from around 7pm, but we do not know what was discussed between the two.”
Insiders suggest that Ghising was seeking a prominent and influential role within any expanded alliance. While RSP leaders had previously engaged in discussions with Ghising, even exploring his potential inclusion in the party during Lamichhane’s incarceration, their current inclination appears to be to proceed with an agreement solely focused on Mayor Shah.
Conversely, Shah’s camp had reportedly put forth a proposal to unite Ghising and the “Gen Z” group. A leader from the RSP acknowledged the possibility of future engagement, stating, “We had already spoken to Kulman earlier. It is possible to talk again later.” This suggests that while Ghising is not part of the immediate understanding, avenues for future collaboration remain open.
The history of interactions between these political figures is complex. Following the merger of Bibeksheel Sajha Party with the RSP, Mayor Shah met with Ghising on November 30. At that time, leaders close to Ghising reported that Shah had assured him of support by joining the Ujyalo Nepal Party. Ghising subsequently shared a photograph of the two on social media, expressing a shared commitment to national development.
However, Ghising later expressed his disappointment as Shah shifted his focus towards a separate accord with the RSP. Mayor Shah met with Ghising again on Saturday morning and subsequently canceled a planned trip to Pokhara to continue discussions in Baluwatar, underscoring the fluid nature of these political negotiations.
Despite being sidelined in the current RSP-Shah agreement, prominent figures within the Ujyalo Nepal Party maintain that a strong desire for the unification of alternative political forces persists within their ranks. This sentiment suggests that while the immediate outcome may have excluded Ghising, the broader objective of consolidating opposition parties remains a significant undercurrent in Nepalese politics. The dynamics of these alliances continue to evolve, with potential for further shifts and realignments in the future. The exclusion of Ghising from this particular agreement highlights the challenges in forming cohesive political blocs and the intricate negotiations involved in navigating leadership aspirations and strategic alliances in the Nepalese political landscape.
