Political Turmoil in Nepal: UML finalises series of protest programs: UML Leadership Process Halted Following Oli’s Arrest

KalimNews | March 31, 2026 | Kathmandu : The process of selecting the parliamentary party leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) has been brought to a standstill following the arrest of party chairman and former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. The development has triggered significant political uncertainty, halting key party decisions and intensifying nationwide protests and legal actions.

The arrest stems from findings by an investigation commission into the human casualties that occurred during the Gen-Z movement on Bhadra 23. The commission held then-Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli responsible for the incident. Based on this conclusion, police detained him last Saturday for further investigation.

Currently, Oli is undergoing treatment under police supervision at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj.

Prior to his arrest, Oli had been preparing to appoint UML Vice Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa as the parliamentary party leader. However, with Oli now in custody, the selection process has been suspended.

UML Publicity Department Chief Min Bahadur Shahi stated, “Important decisions, including the selection of the parliamentary party leader, will be made only after the chairman is released.”

Despite being in custody, Oli continues to engage with party leaders. Senior UML figures have been visiting him at the hospital to discuss ongoing political strategies.

On Monday, UML General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel met with Oli to deliberate on the party’s street protest plans. Following Oli’s instructions, a Secretariat meeting was convened on Tuesday, where discussions focused on protests against his arrest through parliamentary, street, and legal channels.

A party leader revealed that Oli has directed the intensification of street protests even while in custody.

Since Oli’s arrest, UML has escalated its political and legal resistance. The party has been organizing daily street demonstrations demanding his release and has also filed a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court.

In addition, UML has announced protest programs at central, district, and local levels on Chaitra 24.

In a decisive move, the UML Central Secretariat has resolved to oppose Oli’s arrest through coordinated efforts in the streets, parliament, and legal arenas.

After the meeting, General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel stated that the arrest was “illegal and politically motivated.” He further emphasized: “The party has decided to launch parliamentary, street, legal, and political protests against the illegal arrest of Chairman K.P. Oli. The state has created an atmosphere of fear through retaliatory actions against peaceful movements. We sincerely call upon political parties and civil society to unite in resistance.”

UML has unveiled a phased nationwide protest programme. It will orgamise a large-scale district-level gatherings organized by all district committees by Chaitra 25 (April 7, 2026),  protest demonstrations across all municipalities by Chaitra 28 (April 10, 2026),  province-level protest on Baisakh 3 and 7 (April 16 and 20, 2026), 2083 and mass protest rally and सभा (assembly) in the capital, Kathmandu on Baisakh 12, 2083 (April 25, 2026).

Pokhrel expressed concern that the government is steering the country toward confrontation and unrest, adding, “We believe we will succeed in protecting democracy.”

The arrest of K.P. Sharma Oli has not only disrupted UML’s internal leadership process but has also sparked a broader political confrontation. With protests intensifying and legal proceedings underway, the situation continues to evolve, raising concerns about political stability and democratic processes in Nepal.