"5 December"

#13213194

18 January 2026

Former Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, also known as Balen, gestures after arriving at the party office of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 18, 2026, formally joining the party to contest the March election. The rapper-turned-mayor is presented as the next Prime Minister by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). The former rapper, who wins the local election of 2022 from the Nepali capital, also assumes the charge of senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). On December 28, Balen strikes a deal with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) where it is agreed that he will be the next Prime Ministerial candidate from the party. As per the 7-point agreement, RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane continues as the party's central chairman, while Shah is presented as the party's parliamentary leader after the elections and its prime ministerial candidate. The RSP emerges as the fourth largest political force, winning 21 seats in the dissolved House of Representatives within a year of its establishment. With candidacy filing scheduled for January 20, Shah prepares to contest from the Jhapa-5 constituency in the March 5 elections, with the declared aim of beating four-time prime minister and CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli in his own constituency. Balen promises to institutionalize the agenda raised by September's Gen-Z movement. The electoral battle in Jhapa-5 shapes up to be an intriguing contest this time.

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#13213195

18 January 2026

Former Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, also known as Balen, arrives at the party office of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 18, 2026, formally joining the party to contest the March election. The rapper-turned-mayor is presented as the next Prime Minister by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). The former rapper, who won the local election of 2022 from the Nepali capital, also assumes the role of senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). On December 28, Balen strikes a deal with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) where it is agreed that he will be the next Prime Ministerial candidate from the party. As per the 7-point agreement, RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane continues as the party's central chairman, while Shah is presented as the party's parliamentary leader after the elections and its prime ministerial candidate. The RSP emerges as the fourth largest political force, winning 21 seats in the dissolved House of Representatives within a year of its establishment. With candidacy filing scheduled for January 20, Shah prepares to contest from the Jhapa-5 constituency in the March 5 elections, with the declared aim of beating four-time prime minister and CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli in his own constituency. Balen promises to institutionalize the agenda raised by September's Gen-Z movement. The electoral battle in Jhapa-5 shapes up to be an intriguing contest this time.

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#13213290

18 January 2026

Former Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, also known as Balen, rings a traditional bell after arriving at the party office of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 18, 2026, formally joining the party to contest the March election. The rapper turned mayor is presented as the next Prime Minister by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). The former rapper, who wins the local election of 2022 from the Nepali capital, also assumes the charge of senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). On December 28, Balen strikes a deal with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) where it is agreed that he will be the next Prime Ministerial candidate from the party. As per the 7-point agreement, RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane continues as the party's central chairman, while Shah is presented as the party's parliamentary leader after the elections and its prime ministerial candidate. The RSP emerges as the fourth largest political force, winning 21 seats in the dissolved House of Representatives within a year of its establishment. With candidacy filing scheduled for January 20, Shah prepares to contest from the Jhapa-5 constituency in the March 5 elections, with the declared aim of beating four-time prime minister and CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli in his own constituency. Balen promises to institutionalize the agenda raised by September's Gen-Z movement. The electoral battle in Jhapa-5 shapes up to be an intriguing contest this time.

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#13175497

10 January 2026

Former Nepali Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli (center in red scarf), attends the Central Committee meeting on January 10, 2026. The Central Committee meeting of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) reviews political developments. The key agenda item of the meeting is the revision of the party's bylaws. Proposed amendments, based on changes made during the Second Statutory General Convention from September 5 to 7, 2025, and the Eleventh National Convention from December 14 to 16, 2025, are presented for approval. Decisions taken in the Central Secretariat meetings on December 27, 2025, and January 6 are submitted for approval; these decisions are already implemented through the party's Inter-Party Directive-1. Additionally, party Chair Oli distributes certificates to officials and members elected to the Central Committee during the Eleventh National Convention.

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#13175498

10 January 2026

Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu, Sunita Dangol, arrives for the Central Committee meeting of the CPN-UML in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. The Central Committee meeting of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) reviews political developments. The key agenda item of the meeting is the revision of the party's bylaws. Proposed amendments, based on changes made during the Second Statutory General Convention from September 5 to 7, 2025, and the Eleventh National Convention from December 14 to 16, 2025, are presented for approval. Decisions taken in the Central Secretariat meetings on December 27, 2025, and January 6 are submitted for approval; these decisions are already implemented through the party's Inter-Party Directive-1. Additionally, party Chair Oli distributes certificates to officials and members elected to the Central Committee during the Eleventh National Convention.

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#13175499

10 January 2026

Former Communication Minister Prithivi Subba Gurung arrives for the Central Committee meeting of the CPN-UML in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. The Central Committee meeting of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) reviews political developments. The key agenda item of the meeting is the revision of the party's bylaws. Proposed amendments, based on changes made during the Second Statutory General Convention (September 5 to 7, 2025) and the Eleventh National Convention (December 14 to 16, 2025), are presented for approval. Decisions taken in the Central Secretariat meetings on December 27, 2025, and January 6 are submitted for approval; these decisions have already been implemented through the party's Inter-Party Directive-1. Additionally, party Chair Oli distributes certificates to officials and members elected to the Central Committee during the Eleventh National Convention.

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#13175500

10 January 2026

Gokarna Bista, Vice-President of the CPN-UML, arrives for the Central Committee meeting of the CPN-UML in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. The Central Committee meeting of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) reviews political developments. The key agenda item of the meeting is the revision of the party's bylaws. Proposed amendments, based on changes made during the Second Statutory General Convention from September 5 to 7, 2025, and the Eleventh National Convention from December 14 to 16, 2025, are presented for approval. Decisions taken in the Central Secretariat meetings on December 27, 2025, and January 6 are submitted for approval; these decisions have already been implemented through the party's Inter-Party Directive-1. Additionally, party Chair Oli distributes certificates to officials and members elected to the Central Committee during the Eleventh National Convention.

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#13175501

10 January 2026

Former Nepali Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali arrives for the Central Committee meeting in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. The Central Committee meeting of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) reviews political developments. The key agenda item of the meeting is the revision of the party's bylaws. Proposed amendments, based on changes made during the Second Statutory General Convention from September 5 to 7, 2025, and the Eleventh National Convention from December 14 to 16, 2025, are presented for approval. Decisions taken in the Central Secretariat meetings on December 27, 2025, and January 6 are submitted for approval; these decisions are already implemented through the party's Inter-Party Directive-1. Additionally, party Chair Oli distributes certificates to officials and members elected to the Central Committee during the Eleventh National Convention.

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#13175502

10 January 2026

Former Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Sher Dhan Rai (Center), arrives for the Central Committee meeting of the CPN-UML in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. The Central Committee of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) holds the meeting to review political developments. The key agenda item of the meeting is the revision of the party's bylaws. Proposed amendments, based on changes made during the Second Statutory General Convention (September 5 to 7, 2025) and the Eleventh National Convention (December 14 to 16, 2025), are presented for approval. Decisions taken in the Central Secretariat meetings on December 27, 2025, and January 6 are submitted for approval; these decisions are already implemented through the party's Inter-Party Directive-1. Additionally, party Chair Oli distributes certificates to officials and members elected to the Central Committee during the Eleventh National Convention.

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#13175503

10 January 2026

Central Committee member of the CPN-UML, Mahesh Basnet, arrives for the meeting in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. The Central Committee of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) holds the meeting to review political developments. The key agenda item of the meeting is the revision of the party's bylaws. Proposed amendments, based on changes made during the Second Statutory General Convention (September 5 to 7, 2025) and the Eleventh National Convention (December 14 to 16, 2025), are presented for approval. Decisions taken in the Central Secretariat meetings on December 27, 2025, and January 6 are submitted for approval; these decisions are already implemented through the party's Inter-Party Directive-1. Additionally, party Chair Oli distributes certificates to officials and members elected to the Central Committee during the Eleventh National Convention.

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#13175504

10 January 2026

Former Senior Vice President of CPN-UML Ishwar Pokharel attends the Central Committee meeting in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. The Central Committee of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) holds the meeting to review political developments. The key agenda item of the meeting is the revision of the party's bylaws. Proposed amendments, based on changes made during the Second Statutory General Convention (September 5 to 7, 2025) and the Eleventh National Convention (December 14 to 16, 2025), are presented for approval. Decisions taken in the Central Secretariat meetings on December 27, 2025, and January 6 are submitted for approval; these decisions are already implemented through the party's Inter-Party Directive-1. Additionally, party Chair Oli distributes certificates to officials and members elected to the Central Committee during the Eleventh National Convention.

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#13175505

10 January 2026

Former Nepali Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli (center in red scarf), arrives in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 10, 2026, for the Central Committee meeting. The Central Committee of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) holds the meeting to review political developments. The key agenda item of the meeting is the revision of the party's bylaws. Proposed amendments, based on changes made during the Second Statutory General Convention (September 5 to 7, 2025) and the Eleventh National Convention (December 14 to 16, 2025), are presented for approval. Decisions taken in the Central Secretariat meetings on December 27, 2025, and January 6, 2026, are submitted for approval; these decisions have already been implemented through the party's Inter-Party Directive-1. Additionally, party Chair Oli distributes certificates to officials and members elected to the Central Committee during the Eleventh National Convention.

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#13175506

10 January 2026

Former Nepali Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli (center in red scarf), waves at media after arriving in Lalitpur, Nepal, on January 10, 2026, for the Central Committee meeting. The Central Committee of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) holds the meeting to review political developments. The key agenda item of the meeting is the revision of the party's bylaws. Proposed amendments, based on changes made during the Second Statutory General Convention (September 5 to 7, 2025) and the Eleventh National Convention (December 14 to 16, 2025), are presented for approval. Decisions taken in the Central Secretariat meetings on December 27, 2025, and January 6 are submitted for approval; these decisions are already implemented through the party's Inter-Party Directive-1. Additionally, party Chair Oli distributes certificates to officials and members elected to the Central Committee during the Eleventh National Convention.

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#13175507

10 January 2026

Former Nepali Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli (center in red scarf), attends the Central Committee meeting on January 10, 2026. The Central Committee meeting of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) reviews political developments. The key agenda item of the meeting is the revision of the party's bylaws. Proposed amendments, based on changes made during the Second Statutory General Convention from September 5 to 7, 2025, and the Eleventh National Convention from December 14 to 16, 2025, are presented for approval. Decisions taken in the Central Secretariat meetings on December 27, 2025, and January 6 are submitted for approval; these decisions are already implemented through the party's Inter-Party Directive-1. Additionally, party Chair Oli distributes certificates to officials and members elected to the Central Committee during the Eleventh National Convention.

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#13175508

10 January 2026

Central Secretary of CPN-UML Shankar Pokhrel attends the Central Committee meeting in Nepal on January 10, 2026. The Central Committee meeting of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) reviews political developments. The key agenda item of the meeting is the revision of the party's bylaws. Proposed amendments, based on changes made during the Second Statutory General Convention from September 5 to 7, 2025, and the Eleventh National Convention from December 14 to 16, 2025, are presented for approval. Decisions taken in the Central Secretariat meetings on December 27, 2025, and January 6 are submitted for approval; these decisions have already been implemented through the party's Inter-Party Directive-1. Additionally, party Chair Oli distributes certificates to officials and members elected to the Central Committee during the Eleventh National Convention.

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#13175509

10 January 2026

Former Nepali Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli (center in red scarf), attends the Central Committee meeting on January 10, 2026. The Central Committee meeting of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) reviews political developments. The key agenda item of the meeting is the revision of the party's bylaws. Proposed amendments, based on changes made during the Second Statutory General Convention from September 5 to 7, 2025, and the Eleventh National Convention from December 14 to 16, 2025, are presented for approval. Decisions taken in the Central Secretariat meetings on December 27, 2025, and January 6 are submitted for approval; these decisions are already implemented through the party's Inter-Party Directive-1. Additionally, party Chair Oli distributes certificates to officials and members elected to the Central Committee during the Eleventh National Convention.

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