Kathmandu, Nepal April 3, 2026: The CPN (UML) has been plunged into a fresh wave of internal turbulence following a highly controversial and metaphorical address by its Parliamentary Party Leader, Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’. The speech, delivered during a session of the House of Representatives, has not only drawn fire from the opposition but has also exposed a widening chasm between the party’s top brass and the powerful General Secretary, Shankar Pokhrel.
A ‘Sarcastic’ Congratulations
In a move that caught many by surprise, Badal used his time on the rostrum to satirically "congratulate" the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Prime Minister, who was former Kathmandu Mayor, Balendra Shah for what he termed a "successfully executed Color Revolution" (Rag Kranti) on September 8 and 9.
Badal further alleged that "invisible forces," "AI algorithms," and a "Deep State" were the true architects of the current political shift, accusing them of turning national heroes into "villains" and "murderers." He raised eight pointed questions to the government, spanning from the "illegal arrest" of former ministers to the "state terror" allegedly being unleashed on students and professionals.
The Internal Backlash
The fallout within the UML was immediate. Senior leaders, including Vice-Chairman Bishnu Paudel and Deputy General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai, have reportedly expressed strong reservations, viewing the speech as a departure from the party’s official diplomatic and political line.
"Such sensitive geopolitical and internal security allegations should not be made without collective party consensus," a senior leader told this daily on condition of anonymity. "It risks portraying the UML as a party governed by conspiracy theories rather than political reality."
Leader Surendra Pandey and other members of the "dissatisfied faction" have also joined the chorus of criticism, suggesting that the speech has alienated the urban youth—a demographic the UML is desperately trying to reclaim.
The Proxy War: Pokhrel vs. Paudel
Political analysts suggest that the anger directed at Badal is, in fact, a proxy strike against General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel. It is widely known within the party that Badal was installed as the Parliamentary Party Leader due to Pokhrel’s decisive backing.
The disgruntled camp alleges that Pokhrel maneuvered the internal selection process to sideline Suhang Nemwang, leaving him without a proposer or supporter to ensure Badal’s uncontested appointment.
"There is a growing perception that the General Secretary is attempting to 'monopolize' access to Chairman KP Sharma Oli to secure his own succession," says a central committee member. "By attacking Badal’s performance, the Paudel-led faction is highlighting what they call Pokhrel’s 'strategic failure' in leadership selection."
Implications for the General Convention
The timing of this friction is critical. As the UML prepares for its next General Convention, the "Badal Episode" has provided ammunition to those who oppose Pokhrel’s centralization of power.
While Chairman Oli has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, the public dissent from heavyweights like Bishnu Paudel—who has maintained a delicate alliance with Oli while remaining a rival to Pokhrel—suggests that the battle for the party’s soul is entering a more aggressive phase.
Whether the party leadership will move to "correct" Badal’s standing or double down on his narrative remains to be seen, but the cracks in the UML’s monolithic facade are now more visible than ever.
