Senior Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala has stepped up consultations with ministers and lawmakers from his camp, raising concerns about the government’s performance and reconsidering his faction’s role in the ruling coalition.
On Sunday, Koirala held back-to-back meetings at Hotel Yak & Yeti in Durbarmarg, Kathmandu. According to a lawmaker who attended, the discussions centered around internal frustrations and whether their participation in the government is delivering real results.
“In the morning, Dr. Koirala met with Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Rammnath Adhikari and seven other MPs. Later in the day, 12 more lawmakers joined for further discussions,” the lawmaker said.
Koirala Questions Ministerial Results, Considers Recall
Koirala has grown increasingly uneasy with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s leadership. Although his faction sent four ministers to the cabinet, there’s growing concern that their impact has been limited.
“If our ministers aren’t delivering meaningful results, Dr. Koirala might recall them,” the lawmaker added. “If they’re not effective, the party has every right to bring them back.”
The conversation also touched on recent disciplinary action against 18 party members, ordered by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba. Koirala’s allies discussed putting pressure on the party to reverse those decisions — even floating the idea of mass resignations if necessary.
Koirala Expands Outreach, Party Dynamics Shift
Koirala hasn’t just been focused on his own party. Recently, he’s also met separately with CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and former President Bidya Devi Bhandari — a sign that he’s exploring wider political options.
The Nepali Congress currently holds 88 seats in the House of Representatives, though one MP, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, is suspended.
Back in December 2022 (Poush 6, 2079 BS), party president Deuba won the parliamentary leader vote with 64 votes, while General Secretary Gagan Thapa received 25. Party insiders estimate that Koirala has the backing of around 30 MPs. But changing the parliamentary party leader would require at least 45 votes — a number that still seems out of reach.
