The CPN-UML is increasingly finding itself alone on the demand to reinstate the House of Representatives. Pressure on the party grew after the Nepali Congress, during its Central Committee meeting on Saturday, officially decided to participate in the election scheduled for Falgun 21.
The Congress also confirmed it would take part in the National Assembly election on Magh 11 and the House of Representatives election on Falgun 21, and would register with the Election Commission for both processes.
Inside the UML, opinions remain divided on the issue of reinstatement. Half of the Central Secretariat believes seeking reinstatement is not the right path. The matter created clear disagreements during the Central Committee meeting. Although the dissolved parliamentary party had decided to take the reinstatement issue to the court, the party has not yet filed the petition.
Election Commission Deadlines and UML’s Registration Situation
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has already called for party registrations for the National Assembly and House of Representatives elections. Parties must register for the National Assembly election by Sunday, while the registration deadline for the House of Representatives election is Mangsir 10.
Under existing law, political parties must complete separate registration processes to participate in each election. Newly formed parties are also required to register twice with the Election Commission.
The UML has already registered for the National Assembly election scheduled for Magh 11 and has begun internal preparations. Elections will be held for 19 seats that will become vacant in the National Assembly on Falgun 21.
However, the UML has not yet registered for the House of Representatives election. Asked about this, Niroj Acharya, head of the party’s Central Election Department, said the UML would complete registration within a few days. He added that discussion with the party leadership regarding the exact date was still ongoing.
“We do not pursue elections that exclude us. But as required by law, we will keep our organization updated for election purposes,” he said on Sunday. He added that because the UML functions according to legal and procedural rules, it will update its institutional details and complete the registration process within a few days.
Rallies and Cadre Mobilization Indicate Quiet Election Preparation
In recent weeks, the UML has been the only political party still promoting the slogan of parliament reinstatement while simultaneously organizing daily rallies and gatherings from ward level to municipal and district level to energize its cadres.
The party has been conducting these nationwide programs since Kartik 22. After forming the National Volunteer Force on Friday, the UML mobilized cadres from all three districts of the Kathmandu Valley at Bhrikutimandap on Saturday. Party leaders believe these activities have boosted morale among members who had appeared discouraged and inactive after the protests of Bhadra 23 and 24.
Although the UML presents these demonstrations as part of its campaign for reinstating the House of Representatives, cadres say the underlying focus is election preparation.For elections, public mobilization is the core component. Believing that results cannot be achieved without engaging the grassroots, UML cadres view the series of demonstrations as a ground-level “strength test.”
