Unexpected Rise of Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal in Nepalese Politics
March 31, Kathmandu — The political transformation following the Janajati movement has brought unexpected success to Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal. After the dissolution of the then Nepal Communist Party (NCP), Thapa chose to remain within the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) or CPN-UML. Within a short span of five years, he has ascended to the positions of acting party chairman and leader of the parliamentary party. The internal crisis within the UML played a significant role in accelerating his rise.
Had the UML avoided its historic defeat in the last election and had Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli not been arrested, Thapa’s role might have remained limited to that of a vice-chairman. However, citing the implementation of the Kari Commission’s recommendations, the former Prime Minister Oli was arrested on the morning of April 2 (Nepali date 14 Chaitra).
“After Oli’s arrest, the chairman appointed Thapa as acting chairman the same day,” said Mahesh Basnet, Secretary of the UML. In fact, a secretariat meeting under Thapa’s leadership had already begun prior to Oli’s arrest. Following the electoral results declared on February 3 (21 Magh), the secretariat had convened on March 15 (1 Chaitra) with Thapa chairing due to Oli being on private bereavement leave. Oli had not presided over any meetings under normal circumstances. After Oli’s detention, another secretariat meeting was held on April 3 (17 Chaitra) under Thapa’s chairmanship, where the decision to select the parliamentary party leader was finalized.
The UML faced two choices in selecting the parliamentary party leader: either to appoint Thapa, a senior leader elected via proportional representation, or to acknowledge the changed political environment by promoting a younger leader. Thapa insisted on his central role, disregarding voices advocating change both inside and outside the party. Had he been responsive to such calls, 36-year-old Suhang Nembang would have become the leader of the UML parliamentary party. Suhang had expressed his interest in leading during the parliamentary party meeting. Sources reveal that Rajendra Rai and Arjun Karki had promised to propose and support Suhang’s candidacy, with some proportional members also voicing support. However, a scheme orchestrated by Rajendra Rai and Arjun Karki limited proposer and supporter roles to directly elected MPs only, creating unforeseen challenges for Suhang upon his arrival in Chyasal.
“Upon reaching Chyasal, Secretary General Shankar Pokhrel had already consolidated his dominance. Since Suhang was unwilling to step back, MPs designated as proposers and supporters were pressured,” sources report.
The decision on the parliamentary party leadership has sparked dissatisfaction within UML ranks. Deputy Secretary General Yogesh Bhattarai publicly voiced his objection to the pressure exerted on MPs, which led to Suhang being unable to secure even a proposer or supporter. Frustration is widespread among young central members as well as local party workers.
The meeting that reshaped the alliance was organized after KP Oli’s arrest provided Thapa the opportunity to become acting chairman. According to party insiders, Thapa revolted during the secretariat meeting on December 27 (13 Poush) and placed himself on the proportional candidate list. Oli had indicated that Thapa should contest a direct electoral constituency. However, due to predictions that Chitwan would be a difficult seat for the UML, Thapa preferred becoming an MP through proportional representation. During that meeting, Thapa vocally objected to the list presented by Oli, which included names such as Guru Baral first among the Khas Arya males and Jitu Gautam Darji amongst Dalit males.
“Is this the list?” Thapa had asked sharply.
However, circumstances changed the next day. “Oli corrected the list by placing Thapa’s name at the top for the indigenous male category. After that, Thapa became silent,” an official said. Once Thapa’s parliamentary seat was secured, Oli restructured the leadership, removing vice-chairman Gokarna Bista and Deputy Secretary General Yogesh Bhattarai among others. Crucially, after securing Thapa’s support, the power balance within UML was fundamentally altered. Currently, Thapa stands poised to lead both the party and the parliamentary faction.
Thapa’s rise was not limited to personal gains but also overshadowed the decade-long Maoist armed insurgency that opposed parliamentary politics. After failing to deliver a constitution through the Constituent Assembly in 2007 BS (1961/62 AD), Thapa was expelled from the Maoist party. Subsequently, Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” gave him opportunities in parliamentary politics and power. Though Thapa led the agitation disturbing the 2014 BS (1957) Constituent Assembly elections, he was appointed Home Minister following the 2017 general election by Prachanda. Though he was not elected to the House of Representatives, Thapa was a member of the National Assembly. However, the UML-Maoist alliance dissolved within three years after 2017 BS (1960) and Oli’s prime ministership following the dissolution of the House of Representatives set the stage for the breakup of the then NCP union. Having originally been a Maoist leader, Thapa resigned his ministerial post and ceased supporting reinstatement of the House of Representatives, opting instead to back Oli by joining the UML. However, during this period, he lost both his National Assembly membership and Home Minister portfolio. He also did not contest in the 2022 elections.
Under Oli’s sole leadership, Thapa was elected vice-chairman during the UML’s decade-old national general convention in 2021 BS (1964) and then re-elected as vice-chairman at the 11th national convention held last December. During the period of the then NCP, Thapa’s seniority over Vishnu Paudel helped elevate their positions within the party, thereby laying the foundation for Thapa’s current appointments as acting chairman and parliamentary party leader.