Tens of thousands of Nepalese supporters rallied on Saturday in Bhaktapur near the capital Kathmandu, marking the largest political gathering since anti-corruption protests forced former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli from office three months ago. Police estimated around 70,000 people attended the event, although organizers had projected 300,000, to launch a three-day convention of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist).
Political analyst Puranjan Acharya described the rally as “the biggest mobilisation of supporters by any party in the capital since the anti-graft protests,” underlining its symbolic significance for Oli and his party. The September unrest, driven by youth-led “Gen Z” protests, left 77 dead and over 2,000 injured, prompting the army to protect Oli and other politicians as the Prime Minister’s Office, Supreme Court, and parliament were set on fire.
The interim government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki dissolved parliament in the aftermath, citing more than $586 million in economic losses from the unrest. At Saturday’s rally, Oli condemned the parliamentary dissolution as unconstitutional and confirmed that the UML has filed a petition with the Supreme Court to restore parliament. He sought to counter claims that his party is anti-youth, saying, “We are being projected as anti-Gen Z youths. But this is not true.”
UML General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel emphasized the party’s enduring popular support, declaring, “We still live in the hearts of the people,” and pointed to the rally turnout as proof. Over 2,000 UML delegates are set to vote for the party president on Monday, with Oli facing a challenge from his deputy, Ishwar Pokharel. The victor will lead Nepal’s largest communist party into parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5.
