Party Realignments

Nepal is now in a whirlwind of political reorganisation, new alliances, and party revivals that may finally respond to the voice of Generation Z. After the social turbulence stirred by the youth-driven Gen Z movement, the established political parties are restructuring themselves and registering with the election authority with new nomenclatures. These developments have occurred as the country is bracing for elections on March 5, 2026. At the forefront stands the newly formed Nepali Communist Party (NCP), born from the unification of around 15 leftist groups, including the former Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist). Their unity conference, held in early November, is arguably the most sweeping consolidation of left-wing forces in Nepal’s recent memory.

The decision by the former parties to dissolve and subsume themselves into a unified entity signals ambition to speak in unison and to offer voters a coherent alternative. Meanwhile, the older stalwarts have stirred themselves from slumber. Nepali Congress, after marathon deliberations at its central committee meeting, resolved to hold its 15th general convention in January next year.  Its leaders have stressed the need to re-energise the party, engage younger members and dispel the uncertainty that had been dogging observers and supporters alike.

At the same time, alternative and new groups are now seeing consolidation as well. For example, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Bibeksheel Party have been unified, branding themselves as a credible substitute to traditional democratic and left parties. Beyond mere unifications, fresh entities like the Ujyalo Nepal Party, among many, have emerged newly registered, heralding aspirations of democracy, youth leadership, and a break from old patterns. 

What underlies this frenetic blend is clear: the hunger for relevance in a new Nepal. The Gen Z movement, motivated by anger over entrenched corruption and bad governance, has shaken the polity to its core. The dissolution of parliament, the appointment of the country’s first woman interim Prime Minister, and the announcement of the election have given a definitive deadline. Parties, the old and the new, have now realised that the time to reconnect with people is not sometime in the future but is now. This groundswell is encouraging if handled with sincerity. A reformed political system, if shaped by genuine self-realisation, could renew Nepali democracy. 

For too long, politics has been insulated as an elite game of shifting loyalties and personal ambitions. But the current energy suggests a possible re-grounding. Parties are scrambling to hold conventions, draft manifestos, register with the election commission, expand outreach and in doing so, they are implicitly acknowledging that voters have changed, and that the old formulas may no longer suffice. Yet, there is reason for caution. Rapid mergers and rebranding do not always translate into real reforms. The success of this moment depends not on the number of parties or the novelty of names, but on the quality of engagement. 

The extent to which political organisations listen to  the demands of citizens especially the youth, calls for credible leadership, policies that go beyond populist sloganeering, and integrity, not just at the ballot box, but in governance. As it stands, Nepal hovers on a threshold. On one side lies the comfortable inertia of old alliances and politics of convenience, on the other, a hard but hopeful road toward renewal of faith in institutions, accountability and giving younger generations a real stake in their own future. The reality will be seen, after the election and formation of a new parliament, how the new system commits itself towards the nation and its citizens.