The ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) is facing a severe crisis since it was founded in May, 2018 from the unification of the two large communist groups – erstwhile CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre. The successful merger took place on the back of astonishing election victory in November and December of 2017. The electoral alliance, forged in October of the same year, had produced the synergic impact. The NCP’s emergence as the largest political force with near two-thirds majority in the federal parliament rekindled a high hope that Nepal will finally have a stable government essential to expedite development works and restore a robust democratic order. This is because the people were fed up with the chronic political instability blamed for dysfunction of state apparatuses, thriving corruption, high rate of unemployment, inflation and above all the economic sclerosis. It is natural for the commoners to expect big from KP Sharma Oli-led government for his party secured landslide win in the poll on the planks of stability, prosperity and nationalism.

Immediately after its formation, the Oli government drew up its development vision and got down to business with enthusiasm and alacrity. Two years down the line, it has achieved milestone on several fronts, the deepening political stability being the chief one. But growing rift within the party has threatened the very stability. The NCP has been erected on new model of organisation – it has two chairs dubbed as the two pilots of a jumbo jet. As the largest force, the NCP has many top guns, including three former PMs and other ambitious figures. Organisationally, it is still in a transition phase until it holds unity convention to settle the key issues – ideology, structures and new leadership. But the party has suffered the internal contradictions that largely emerged from trust deficit among the top brass. Those who have reservation about the PM’s style of working say that he fails to take them into confidence. On the other, the PM states that he is not allowed to act freely and his detractors often interfere in the decisions and actions of the government.

The current deadlock within the party came to the fore since the PM introduced two controversial ordinances related to Constitutional Council and the political parties in April. He quickly corrected his missteps but the new round of bickering got intensified after he accused his opponents within the party of hobnobbing with the southern neighbour in order to oust him from power. His rivals including co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda demanded his resignation from both positions – premiership and party chair – at its Standing Committee meeting last Thursday. Now the situation seems to be tricky. The federal parliament has been prorogued amidst the rumour that the government may present another ordinance pertaining to the political parties. In order to find the middle ground, the two chairs are engaged in hectic parleys by putting off the SC meeting. A host of leaders representing all factional groups are effortful to develop a blueprint on the functioning of the government with due participation of senior leaders. But one thing is clear- the attempt to remove the PM will thrust nation into another vicious cycle of instability, endangering the past political achievements. Moreover, this will weaken the collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic recession.