Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)

The predecessors of the CPN (UML) were the CPN (Marxist) led by former general secretary the Communist Party of Nepal, Man Mohan Adhikari and CPN (Marxist–Leninist) led by Madan Bhandari. CPN (Marxist) was the successor to CPN (Pushpa Lal) which was founded by the founding general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal, Pushpa Lal Shrestha.Parajulee, Ramjee P.. The Democratic Transition in Nepal. Rowman & Littlefield, 2000. p. 72 CPN (Marxist–Leninist) had its origins in the 1969 Jhapa rebellion. The conflict took its inspiration the Naxalite movement in India and began after land reform programs were introduced by King Mahendra in 1964.{{Cite web |last=Rai |first=Dewan |date=2018-03-30 |title=Oli and the Jhapa Rebellion |url=https://www.recordnepal.com/wire/oli-and-the-jhapa-rebellion/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715132255/https://www.recordnepal.com/oli-and-the-jhapa-rebellion |archive-date=2023-07-15 |access-date=2021-02-25 |website=The Record |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Chhetri |first=AG |date=21 May 2004 |title=Remembering Madan Bhandari |url=https://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=2843 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Nepali Times}}

File:Man_Mohan_Adhikari.png, first party chairman and first UML prime minister (1994–1995).]]

The two parties were constituents of the United Left Front which was formed in 1990 to protest against the Panchayat system. The front along with Nepali Congress helped restore multi party democracy in the country after the 1990 revolution. On 6 January 1991, ahead of the 1991 general election, the first parliamentary elections in the country in three decades, the two parties merged to form the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) with Adhikari serving as the party's first chairman.{{Cite book |last=Lansford |first=Tom |url=https://archive.org/details/politicalhandboo0000unse_f0m6 |title=Political handbook of the world 2015 |date=2015-03-24 |publisher=CQ Press |isbn=9781483371580 |oclc=912321323 |url-access=registration}}{{Cite journal |last1=Verma |first1=Anand Swaroop |last2=Navlakha |first2=Gautam |date=2007 |title=People's War in Nepal: Genesis and Development |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4419604 |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=42 |issue=20 |pages=1839–1843 |issn=0012-9976 |jstor=4419604}}

In the 1991 election, the party won 69 out of 205 seats in the House of Representatives and was the second largest parliamentary group. Man Mohan Adhikari was elected as the parliamentary party leader and became the Leader of the Opposition. The fifth party congress was held in Kathmandu in January 1993 and People's Multiparty Democracy was adopted as the party line.{{cite web |title=कम्युनिस्ट आन्दोलनको समीक्षा |url=https://ekantipur.com/opinion/2020/09/24/160091429505296024.html |access-date=2020-12-29 |website=ekantipur.com |language=ne}} The congress also elected Adhikari as the party chairman and Madan Bhandari as the general secretary.{{Cite journal |last=Sapkota |first=Dhakaram |date=December 2016 |title=Samakālīna nētāharusam̐ga manamōhana ādhikārīkō sambandha |script-title=ne:समकालीन नेताहरुसँग मनमोहन आधिकारीको सम्बन्ध |trans-title=Manmohan Adhikari's relationship with contemporary leaders |url=https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/TUJ/article/view/25567/21363 |journal=Tribhuvan University Journal |language=ne |volume=XXX |number=2}} Later in the year however, Bhandari along with Jibaraj Ashrit died in a vehicle accident in Chitwan and Madhav Kumar Nepal became general secretary. In November 1993, veteran communist leader Tulsi Lal Amatya's group merged in the party.

Following the 1994 election, the party became the largest parliamentary group winning 88 out of 205 seats and formed the first CPN (UML) government. Man Mohan Adhikari became prime minister and formed a minority government with the support of Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Sadbhwana Party which lasted for nine months. Adhikari recommended dissolving the House of Representatives, and called for new elections after losing the support of his coalition partners, but the move was dismissed by the Supreme Court after a legal challenge by Nepali Congress.Whelpton, John, A History of Nepal, Cambridge University Press, 2005, pp. 192-193.{{Cite web |title=This dissolution and those dissolutions: Looking for parallels to Oli's move in history |url=https://kathmandupost.com/politics/2020/12/21/this-dissolution-and-those-dissolutions-looking-for-parallels-to-oli-s-move-in-history |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Kathmandu Post |language=en}} In 1997 the party supported the minority government of Rastriya Prajatantra Party which lasted for seven months. Following disagreements about the Mahakali treaty, the party faced a split in March 1998. Bam Dev Gautam reconstituted the CPN (Marxist–Leninist) with 46 MPs from the party. In December 1998, the party supported the Nepali Congress–Nepal Sadbhawana Party government which was created to hold the 1999 election.{{Cite journal |last=Maharjan |first=Pancha N |title=Problems of Democracy in Nepal |url=http://archivenepal.s3.amazonaws.com/digitalhimalaya/collections/journals/ebhr/pdf/EBHR_17_02.pdf |journal=European Bulletin of Himalayan Research |volume=17 |issue=2}}

File:Madhav_Kumar_Nepal2.JPG, Prime Minister (2009–2011)]]

The Nepali Congress formed a majority government following the 1999 election and the CPN (UML) became the main opposition winning 70 seats. Following party chairman Adhikari's death in 1999, general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal became the leader of the party. CPN (Burma) merged into the party on 28 June 2001 and CPN (Marxist–Leninist) reunified with the party on 15 February 2002.{{cite web |date=2005-11-05 |title=Verma's party merges with CPN-UML |url=http://www.nepalnews.com.np/archive/2001/june/arc235.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051105224612/http://www.nepalnews.com.np/archive/2001/june/arc235.htm |archive-date=2005-11-05 |access-date=2020-12-29}} A group led by Chandra Prakash Mainali opposed the unification and opted to reconstitute the party. The party held its seventh general convention in February 2003 in Janakpur. Nepal was reelected as the general secretary and the post of party chair which had remained vacant after the death of Adhikari was abolished.

The House of Representatives was dismissed by King Gyanendra on 22 May 2002 on the request of prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. After the Deuba government failed to hold elections and to control the Maoist insurgency he was dismissed by the king in October with the king assuming executive powers to the protest of political parties including CPN (UML).{{Cite journal |last=Krämer |first=Karl-Heinz |date=2003 |title=Nepal in 2002: Emergency and Resurrection of Royal Power |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/as.2003.43.1.208 |journal=Asian Survey |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=208–214 |doi=10.1525/as.2003.43.1.208 |jstor=10.1525/as.2003.43.1.208 |issn=0004-4687}} In June 2003, general secretary Nepal was proposed as prime minister by the protesting parties but this was ignored by the king and Surya Bahdur Thapa was appointed instead.{{Cite journal |last=Krämer |first=Karl-Heinz |date=2004 |title=NEPAL IN 2003: Another Failed Chance for Peace |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/as.2004.44.1.43 |journal=Asian Survey |volume=44 |issue=1 |pages=43–48 |doi=10.1525/as.2004.44.1.43 |jstor=10.1525/as.2004.44.1.43 |issn=0004-4687}}{{Cite web |date=12 October 2003 |title="We are the people." |url=https://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=4891 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Nepali Times}} After Thapa's resignation in May 2004, Deuba was reappointed as the prime minister. CPN (UML) also joined the cabinet with Bharat Mohan Adhikari serving as deputy prime minister.{{Cite journal |last=Hutt |first=Michael |date=2005 |title=Nepal and Bhutan in 2004: Two Kings, Two Futures |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/as.2005.45.1.83 |journal=Asian Survey |volume=45 |issue=1 |pages=83–87 |doi=10.1525/as.2005.45.1.83 |jstor=10.1525/as.2005.45.1.83 |issn=0004-4687}}{{Cite web |last=Dahal |first=Dev Raj |date=January 2005 |title=Nepal. Looking Back on 2004, Looking Forward to 2005 |url=https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/iez/02832.pdf |website=Friedrich Ebert Stiftung}}

On 1 February 2005, King Gyanendra declared a national emergency, placed all leading politicians under house arrest and assumed chairmanship of a 10-member council of ministers.{{Cite news |last1=Ramesh |first1=Randeep |last2=correspondent |first2=South Asia |date=2005-02-02 |title=King of Nepal seizes power |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/feb/02/nepal |access-date=2024-07-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} CPN (UML) along with other parties in the dissolved lower house formed the Seven Party Alliance to end the king's direct rule, reinstate the dissolved House of Representatives and form an all-party government. The alliance also opened talks with the CPN (Maoist) to end their armed insurgency and join mainstream politics. On 22 November 2002, the alliance signed a 12-point agreement with the Maoists to end the insurgency, abolish the monarchy and restore democratic rule to the country.{{Cite web |date=2005-11-22 |title=Nepal: Parties to join hands with Maoists to abolish monarchy |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/nepal-parties-join-hands-maoists-abolish-monarchy |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=reliefweb.int |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Dahal |first=Dev Raj |date=January 2006 |title=Nepal: Looking Back on 2005, Looking Forward to 2006 |url=https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/iez/50215.pdf |website=Friedrich Ebert Stiftung}} Following the 2006 revolution on 24 April, King Gyanendra restored the House of Representatives and an all-party government was formed under the leadership of Girija Prasad Koirala.{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=2006-04-24 |title=Nepal's king restores parliament |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/apr/24/nepal |access-date=2024-07-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Later that year on 21 November, the Comprehensive Peace Accord was signed between the Maoists and the Seven Party Alliance which ended the Civil War.{{Cite news |last1=Ramesh |first1=Randeep |last2=correspondent |first2=south Asia |date=2006-11-23 |title=Nepal rejoices as peace deal ends civil war |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/nov/23/nepal |access-date=2024-07-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

File:Nppcn-uml.png

File:Jhala_Nath_Khanal_portrait.jpg, Prime Minister (2011)]]

In the 2008 election, the party won 108 out of 575 seats to the Constituent Assembly. The party lost most of their leftist vote to the CPN (Maoist) and general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned following his defeat in both of his constituencies and was replaced by Jhala Nath Khanal. The party joined the coalition government with CPN (Maoist) following the election.{{Cite news |last1=Pokharel |first1=Tilak |last2=Sengupta |first2=Somini |date=2008-08-15 |title=Nepal Elects a Maoist to Be the Prime Minister |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/16/world/asia/16nepal.html |access-date=2017-06-26 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} The party's eight general convention in February 2009 elected Khanal as the party chairman and Ishwor Pokhrel as general secretary.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Rishi |date=2009-03-01 |title=New UML leadership : Time to move together |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/opinion/new-uml-leadership-time-to-move-together |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=The Himalayan Times |language=en}} Following the controversial sacking of Army Chief of Staff Rookmangud Katawal, CPN (UML) withdrew its support from the Maoist government.{{cite news |date=May 3, 2009 |title=South Asia | Nepal communists quit in protest |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8031622.stm |access-date=August 18, 2013 |work=BBC News}} In November 2009, Madhav Kumar Nepal, who was nominated to the Constituent Assembly, became prime minister with the support of Nepali Congress and Madheshi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal.{{Cite web |date=2009-11-02 |title=Nepali Parliament Elects New Prime Minister |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2009-05-23-voa15-68687592/408946.html |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Voice of America |language=en}} His government lasted for seven months before he resigned following a political deadlock amid failure to draft the new constitution.{{Cite news |date=2010-06-30 |title=Nepal PM announces resignation 'to end deadlock' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/10464705 |access-date=2024-07-18 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Following seven months of political stalemate party chairman Jhalanath Khanal was elected as prime minister in February 2011 with support from the UCPN (Maoist).{{Cite news |date=2011-02-03 |title=Nepal: Jhalanath Khanal elected new prime minister |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12358985 |access-date=2017-06-26 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} He resigned six months later in August after failing to reach consensus on drafting the new constitution and completing the peace process following which the party supported the new UCPN (Maoist) government.{{Cite news |date=2011-08-14 |title=Nepalese Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal resigns |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-14523275 |access-date=2024-07-18 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |date=2011-08-28 |title=Baburam Bhattarai elected prime minister of Nepal |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-14700892 |access-date=2017-06-26 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} In November 2012 ahead of the new election, Ashok Kumar Rai broke away from the party along with other indigenous leaders and formed the Federal Socialist Party claiming that the party failed to address their concerns during the discussions for promulgation of the constitution.{{Cite web |date=22 November 2012 |title=Sanghiya Samajbadi Party formed under Rai |url=https://amritdahal.blogspot.com/2012/11/sanghiya-samajbadi-party-formed-under.html |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=The Kathmandu Post}}

In the 2013 election, the party became the second largest party winning 175 out of 575 elected seats. The party joined the coalition government under the Nepali Congress following the election with Bamdev Gautam serving as deputy prime minister.{{Cite news |date=2014-02-10 |title=Sushil Koirala wins vote to be Nepal's prime minister |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26116387 |access-date=2017-06-26 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} At the party's ninth general convention in July 2014, K.P. Sharma Oli became party chair after defeating Madhav Kumar Nepal, while Ishwar Pokhrel was reelected as general secretary.{{Cite web |title=UML 9th GC: Oli elected as UML chairman |url=https://kathmandupost.com/miscellaneous/2014/07/15/uml-9th-gc-oli-elected-as-uml-chairman |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}} After the new constitution was delivered by the coalition government, party chair K.P. Sharma Oli was elected as prime minister on 12 October 2015 with the support of UCPN (Maoist), Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal and other parties.{{Cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Bhadra |last2=Barry |first2=Ellen |date=2015-10-11 |title=Nepal Elects K.P. Sharma Oli as New Prime Minister |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/12/world/asia/nepal-elects-kp-sharma-oli-as-new-prime-minister.html |access-date=2017-06-26 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} After the Maoists withdrew their support, Oli resigned in July 2016 ahead of a no-confidence vote.{{Cite news |last=Sharma |first=Bhadra |date=2016-07-24 |title=Nepal's Prime Minister, K. P. Sharma Oli, Resigns Ahead of a No-Confidence Vote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/25/world/asia/nepal-prime-minister-resigns.html |access-date=2017-06-26 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

File:CPN-UML.svg

In the 2017 local elections, 14,099 councilors, including 294 municipal mayors and rural chairs, were elected from the party to local governments. Candidates for the party were elected as mayors in major cities, including the two largest cities Kathmandu and Pokhara Lekhnath.{{Cite news |title=UML's Shakya elected Kathmandu mayor |url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2017-05-29/umls-shakya-elected-kathmandu-mayor.html |access-date=2018-04-18 |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=UML wins mayor, deputy mayor in Pokhara Lekhnath metropolis |url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2017-05-26/uml-wins-mayor-deputy-mayor-in-pokhara-lekhnath-metropolis.html |access-date=2018-04-18 |language=en}} The party announced an alliance with the CPN (Maoist Centre) before the 2017 legislative and provincial elections.{{Cite news |date=2017-10-03 |title=CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre form alliance in Nepal |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/cpn-uml-and-cpn-maoist-centre-set-to-form-alliance-in-nepal/story-DrP1l0a10oagbNxENvpO2H.html |access-date=2018-04-18 |work=hindustantimes.com/ |language=en}} The party won 121 seats, becoming the largest party in the House of Representatives,{{Cite news |date=2018-01-05 |title=Nepali Communists win landslide, but face big obstacles to win change |url=https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/nepali-communists-win-landslide-face-big-obstacles-win-change |access-date=2018-04-18 |work=Green Left Weekly |language=en}} and became the largest party in six of Nepal's seven provinces.{{cite web |title=Nepal's CPN-UML emerges as largest party in historical elections – Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-12/13/c_136823470.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418092943/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-12/13/c_136823470.htm |archive-date=April 18, 2018 |access-date=2018-04-18 |website=www.xinhuanet.com}} After the election, the party maintained its alliance with the CPN (Maoist Centre) and formed coalition governments in the centre and six of the seven provinces. The CPN (UML) led governments in Province 1, Province 3, Province 4 and Province 5.{{Cite news |title=UML to get 4 chief ministers, Maoist Centre 2 |url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2018-01-29/uml-to-get-4-chief-ministers-maoist-centre-2.html |access-date=2018-04-18 |language=en}} In accordance with the agreement Sher Dhan Rai, Dormani Paudel, Prithivi Subba Gurung and Shankar Pokharel were appointed as chief ministers of their respective provinces.{{Cite web |date=16 February 2018 |title=Rai sworn in as Province 1 chief minister |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/sherdahn-rai-sworn-province-1-chief-minister |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=thehimalayantimes.com}}{{Cite web |date=11 February 2018 |title=UML PP leader Dor Mani Paudel appointed CM of Province 3 |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/uml-pp-leader-dor-mani-paudel-appointed-cm-of-province-3 |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=thehimalayantimes.com}}{{Cite web |date=12 February 2018 |title=Prithvi Subba Gurung appointed as Province 4 CM |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/prithvi-subba-gurung-appointed-province-4-cm/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=thehimalayantimes.com}}{{Cite web |date=14 February 2018 |title=Shankar Pokharel appointed Province 5 CM |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/pokharel-appointed-province-5-cm/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=thehimalayantimes.com}}

In the 6 February 2018 National Assembly election, the CPN (UML) won 27 of 56 contested seats and became the largest party in both houses.{{Cite news |date=2017-12-09 |title=Left alliance wins 27 seats, Nepali Congress 5 in Nepal polls |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/nepal-polls-left-alliance-wins-26-seats-nepali-cong-3/article21378869.ece |access-date=2018-04-18 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |agency=PTI}} Party chairman Oli was elected the party's parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives and was appointed prime minister on February 15.{{cite web |title=KP Sharma Oli appointed Nepal's new prime minister |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/kp-sharma-oli-appointed-nepal-prime-minister-180215113017547.html |access-date=2018-04-18 |website=www.aljazeera.com}} Bidya Devi Bhandari was re-elected president on March 13.{{Cite news |date=2018-03-13 |title=Bidya Devi Bhandari re-elected Nepal's president |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/bidya-devi-bhandari-re-elected-nepal-s-president/story-fohqFFg6zJ5rHEg6TkUluM.html |access-date=2018-04-18 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en}} After eight months of planning, the Unification Coordination Committee met to finalize plans for the merger of Nepal's biggest left-wing parties. On 17 May 2018, the party was dissolved and a new party, the Nepal Communist Party was formed from the CPN (UML) and the CPN (Maoist Centre).{{cite web |title=UML- Maoist Center unification approved, new party to be registered today itself |url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/41883/ |access-date=2020-12-24 |website=My Republica |language=en}}{{cite web |date=2018-05-16 |title=UML and Maoist Centre to form Nepal Communist Party tomorrow |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/uml-and-maoist-centre-to-form-nepal-communist-party-tomorrow/ |access-date=2020-12-24 |website=The Himalayan Times |language=en-US}}

File:Shri_K.P._Sharma_Oli,_in_New_Delhi_on_February_22,_2016.jpg, Prime Minister (2015–2016 and 2018–2021)]]

{{See also|2021 split in Nepal Communist Party|2021 split in Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist)}}

On 8 March 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that the name Nepal Communist Party belong to the minor party led by Rishiram Kattel and the merger of the two parties was voided.{{cite web |last1=Ghimire |first1=Yubaraj |date=8 March 2021 |title=Nepal top court quashes 2018 formation of ruling Nepal Communist Party |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/world/nepal-top-court-quashes-2018-formation-of-ruling-nepal-communist-party-7218809/ |access-date=8 March 2021 |website=The Indian Express}} The Election Commission on 9 March 2021 formally split the party and the CPN (UML) was revived. Four members of the House of Representatives and one member of the National Assembly for CPN (Maoist Centre) also defected to CPN (UML) during the split but were dismissed as parliamentarians following their defection.{{Cite web |date=6 April 2021 |title=Maoist Centre expels four parliamentarians |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/maoist-centre-expels-four-parliamentarians |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=thehimalayantimes.com}} KP Sharma Oli lost a no-confidence motion on 9 May 2021 but was reappointed as prime minister four days later after the opposition failed to prove a majority.{{Cite web |title=Oli appointed prime minister, days after he lost confidence vote in House |url=https://kathmandupost.com/politics/2021/05/13/oli-appointed-prime-minister-days-after-he-lost-confidence-vote-in-house |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}} Chief minister of Gandaki, Prithvi Subba Gurung resigned before a no-confidence motion and chief Minister of Lumbini, Shankar Pokharel also lost a no-confidence motion but were similarly reappointed after the opposition failed to prove their majority.{{Cite web |title=Gandaki Province Chief Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung resigns ahead of no-confidence vote |url=https://kathmandupost.com/gandaki-province/2021/05/09/gandaki-province-chief-minister-prithvi-subba-gurung-resigns-ahead-of-no-confidence-vote |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}{{Cite web |title=No-confidence motion filed against Lumbini chief minister for second time |url=https://kathmandupost.com/province-no-5/2021/05/09/no-confidence-motion-filed-against-lumbini-chief-minister-for-second-time |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}{{Cite web |last=SHRESTHA |first=SANDESH |title=Gurung reappointed as Gandaki Province chief minister |url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/110673/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=My Republica |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Pokhrel reappointed Lumbini chief minister amid protests from opposition parties |url=https://kathmandupost.com/province-no-5/2021/05/02/pokhrel-reappointed-lumbini-chief-minister-amid-protests-from-opposition-parties |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}

A cabinet meeting chaired by prime minister and party chairman KP Sharma Oli recommended the president to dissolve the House of Representatives on 22 May 2021 after members of his party led by former prime ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal supported Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba as the next prime minister.{{Cite web |title=In a midnight drama, Nepal President dissolves House and calls polls for November 12 and 19 |url=https://kathmandupost.com/politics/2021/05/22/president-dissolves-house-calls-snap-polls-for-november-12-and-19 |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}} The Supreme Court reinstated the House of Representatives on 12 July 2021 and Oli resigned from his post the next day.{{Cite web |title=Court orders President to appoint Congress leader Deuba prime minister by 5pm Tuesday |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2021/07/12/supreme-court-orders-president-to-appoint-nepali-congress-president-sher-bahadur-deuba-prime-minister-by-5pm-tuesday |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}{{Cite web |title=Oli to address the nation at 2pm before leaving Baluwatar |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2021/07/13/oli-to-address-the-nation-at-2pm-before-leaving-baluwatar |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}} Twenty-two members of the CPN (UML) voted for Deuba during his confidence vote defying the party whip.{{cite web |title=UML seeks clarification from 22 lawmakers who voted for Deuba during confidence vote |url=https://kathmandupost.com/politics/2021/07/19/uml-seeks-clarification-from-22-lawmakers-who-voted-for-deuba-during-confidence-vote |access-date=2021-08-17 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}} The party also lost its government in Gandaki and Lumbini with Gurung losing a no-confidence motion and Pokharel resigning.{{Cite web |last=diwakar |date=2021-06-10 |title=Gandaki CM Gurung loses the vote of confidence - OnlineKhabar English News |url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/gandaki-cm-gurung-loses-the-vote-of-confidence.html |access-date=2022-07-06 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Kul Prasad KC appointed new CM in Lumbini |url=https://kathmandupost.com/province-no-5/2021/08/12/kul-prasad-kc-appointed-new-cm-in-lumbini |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}} Province 1 chief minister, Sher Dhan Rai and Bagmati chief minister Dormani Paudel were replaced in August of that year after losing support within their parliamentary party. They were replaced by Bhim Acharya and Asta Laxmi Shakya respectively who were elected by the parliamentary party.{{Cite web |title=Bhim Acharya replaces Sherdhan Rai as Province 1 chief minister |url=https://kathmandupost.com/province-no-1/2021/08/26/bhim-acharya-replaces-sherdhan-rai-as-province-1-chief-minister |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}{{Cite web |title=Bagmati Province Chief Minister Poudel resigns |url=https://english.khabarhub.com/2021/18/203804/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Khabarhub |language=en}}

On 25 August 2021, former prime ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal split from the party along with 55 members of the Central Committee, 25 members of the House of Representatives and seven members of the National Assembly and formed the CPN (Unified Socialist).{{Cite web |title=Nepal's largest party splits with faction registering new party |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/asiapacific/2021-08/26/c_1310148882.htm |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=www.xinhuanet.com}} Other leaders also broke away from the party with Hridayesh Tripathi forming the People's Progressive Party and former vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam forming the CPN (Unity National Campaign).{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-12-14 |title=Hridayesh Tripathi announces new Janata Pragatishil Party - OnlineKhabar English News |url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/hridayesh-tripathi-janata-pragatishil-party.html |access-date=2022-07-07 |language=en-GB}}{{cite web |last=Setopati |first=Setopati |title=Bam Dev Gautam to form new party |url=https://en.setopati.com/political/157855/ |access-date=2022-02-02 |website=Setopati}}{{cite web |title=Bam Dev Gautam quits CPN-UML |url=https://risingnepaldaily.com/main-news/bam-dev-gautam-quits-cpn-uml |access-date=2022-02-02 |website=GorakhaPatra |language=en}} Following the split, the party lost its majority in Bagmati and Province 1 and Shakya and Acharya resigned following which the party was in opposition in all seven provinces.{{Cite web |title=Province 1 Chief Minister Bhim Acharya resigns from his post |url=https://kathmandupost.com/province-no-1/2021/11/01/province-1-chief-minister-bhim-acharya-resigns-from-his-post |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}{{Cite web |title=Asta Laxmi Shakya resigns as chief minister of Bagmati Province |url=https://kathmandupost.com/province-no-3/2021/10/27/asta-laxmi-shakya-resigns-as-chief-minister-of-bagmati-province |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}} The 10th National Convention of the party was held in Chitwan between 26 and 29 November 2021 with K.P. Sharma Oli being reelected as the party chair.{{Cite web |last=Republica |title=UML General Convention: Who secured how many votes? |url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/121206/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=My Republica |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=December 2021 |title=Oli elected UML chair yet again as party's general convention concludes |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/oli-elected-uml-chair-yet-again-as-partys-general-convention-concludes |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=thehimalayantimes.com}}

In the 2022 local elections, 11,929 councillors were elected from the party including 206 mayors and rural chairs. The party lost their mayoral seats in Kathmandu and Pokhara and failed to win the mayoral elections in any of the six metropolitan cities in the country. The party formed electoral pacts with People's Socialist Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and other minor parties to contest the 2022 general and provincial elections. Former deputy prime minister and Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal chair Kamal Thapa also contested the election under the party's electoral symbol.{{Cite web |title=देउवाको क्षेत्रमा एमाले नेतासहित पाँच जनाले लिए उमेदवारी फिर्ता |url=https://annapurnapost.com/news/dadeldhura-7-214537 |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=देउवाको क्षेत्रमा एमाले नेतासहित पाँच जनाले लिए उमेदवारी फिर्ता |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=एमालेको समर्थनमा कमल थापा मकवानपुर-१ मा चुनाव लड्ने |url=https://ekantipur.com/news/2022/10/08/166523957308345729.html |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=ekantipur.com |language=ne}}{{Cite web |title=जसपालाई एमालेले २० सिट छाड्ने, राप्रपालाई ५ सिट |url=https://lokaantar.com/story/199208/2022/10/7/politics/uml-jasapa-rpp |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Lokaantar |language=Nepali}} At the 2022 general election the party won 79 seats and became the second largest parliamentary party. The party also emerged as the largest party in provincial assemblies in Province 1, Madhesh and Lumbini at the 2022 provincial elections.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=NC wins 111 out of 330 Provincial Assembly seats, UML 91 |url=https://www.nepalminute.com/detail/1257/nc-wins-111-out-of-330-provincial-assembly-seats-uml-91/ |access-date=2022-12-26 |website=Nepal Minute}}

The party backed CPN (Maoist Centre) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's bid to become prime minister and joined a coalition government under him on 26 December 2022 with Bishnu Prasad Paudel joined the cabinet as deputy prime minister but the coalition lasted for less than 2 months.{{Cite web |title=Dahal sworn in as prime minister |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2022/12/26/dahal-sworn-in-as-prime-minister |access-date=2022-12-26 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}} In March 2024, the party again supported CPN (Maoist Centre)'s coalition before withdrawing support for the government in July later that year.{{Cite web |last=Republica |title=PM Dahal reshuffles his cabinet following new alliance with UML |url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/152590/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=My Republica |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=UML withdraws support to Dahal government |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2024/07/03/uml-withdraws-support-to-dahal-government |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}} Party chairman K.P. Sharma Oli was appointed as prime minister for the fourth time with the support of Nepali Congress on 15 July 2024.{{Cite web |title=Oli becomes prime minister for fourth time, swearing-in today |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2024/07/14/president-appoints-kp-sharma-oli-prime-minister |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}

{{Communism in Nepal}}

The guiding principle of the party is Marxism–Leninism and it supports a socialist economy but within the confines of a parliamentary system of governance.{{Cite web |title=The ideology debates in CPN-UML and CPN (Unified Socialist) |url=https://kathmandupost.com/politics/2021/09/24/the-ideology-debates-in-cpn-uml-and-cpn-unified-socialist |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}} The party had adopted the line of People's Multiparty Democracy which was proposed by Madan Bhandari at the party's 5th National Convention in 1993. The party supports the establishment of a welfare system that guarantees social security and social justice to all citizens.{{Cite book |url=https://system.cpnuml.org/parse-image/626?hash=$2y$10$1NWokPCG2VY/jFzS6pjwI./ATmp2XWB.2Za85yF69XZvA/Pouw61K |title=राजनीतिक प्रतिवेदन |publisher=CPN (UML), Central Office |year=2021 |language=ne}}

File:जनताको बहुदलीय जनवाद.pdf]]

File:Flag of CPN (UML).svgThe election symbol of CPN (UML) is the sun which is also present in the party logo.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Candidates to get election symbol today |url=https://nepalnews.com/index.php/s/politics/candidates-to-get-election-symbol-today |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=nepalnews.com}} The hammer and sickle, a common symbol of communism, is also used in the party flag and logo. The party constitution determines that a golden hammer and sickle inside a red sun is the party's logo.

The National Convention is the supreme body of CPN (UML) and it is organized every five years by the party's Central Committee. The national convention elects the central secretariat and the central committee of the party. The convention also discusses and approves political documents, organisational proposals and amendments to the party constitution.{{Cite book |url=https://system.cpnuml.org/parse-image/623?hash=$2y$10$qfm9j7XveTvU.2I2HqQ83eZk4/Pj0zjoslcngvipSO6mMlChDBYgu |title=नेपाल कम्युनिष्ट पार्टी (एकीकृत मार्क्सवादी-लेनिनवादी)को विधान |publisher=CPN (UML), Central Office |year=2021 |language=ne}}

The Central Committee of the party is the highest decision-making body within general conventions and is responsible to the national convention. The National Convention elects a Central Secretariat consisting of a chair, a senior vice-chair, six vice-chairs, one general secretary, three deputy general secretaries and seven secretaries. The Central Secretariat along with other elected members make up the 301-member Central Committee of the party. The chairs of the seven provincial committees of the party are also ex-officio members of the Central Committee. One-third of the committee is also required to be female. The Central Committee also elects a 99-member Politburo and a 45-member Standing Committee among its members.

When the Central Committee is not in session the Politburo is the highest decision-making body, the Standing Committee follows the Politburo in hierarchy and the Central Secretariat follows the Standing Committee. The National Convention also elects a Central Disciplinary Commission, a Central Accounts Commission and a Central Electoral Commission. A Central Advisory Council can also be formed by the Central Committee if needed.

Party committees exist at the provincial, district, local, ward and neighborhood level. In addition to this the party has a separate special committee in the Kathmandu Valley which is in the same level as the provincial committees in the party. The provincial committee holds a provincial convention every four years and the rest of the committees hold a convention every three years except for neighborhood committees which hold a convention every two years. The convention elects the leadership and members of the committee which is the supreme decision-making body in between conventions. The party also has organisational committees for areas where the party does not have presence yet.

{{see also|House of Representatives (Nepal)|Constituent Assembly of Nepal}}{

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• Man Mohan Adhikari, 1991–1999
• Jhala Nath Khanal, 2009–2014
• Khadga Prasad Oli, 2014–2018, 2021–present

File:Madan Bhandari 6.jpg]]

• Madan Bhandari, 1993
• Madhav Kumar Nepal, 1993–2008
• Jhala Nath Khanal, 2008–2009
• Ishwor Pokhrel, 2009–2018, in 2021
• Shankar Pokhrel, 2021–present

|2nd Federal Parliament

|Oli, 2024

|}

{{see also|Chief Minister of Koshi Province}}

|2nd Provincial Assembly

|Kandel, 2024

|Surkhet 2 (A)

|}

• General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions
• National Youth Association, Nepal
• All Nepal National Free Students Union
• All Nepal Women's Association
• All Nepal Peasants Association
• All India Nepalese Free Students Union
• Nepal National Teachers Association
• National People's Cultural Forum
• Democratic National Organization of Persons with Disabilities–Nepal

• Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist–Leninist)
• Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist) (1986–91)
• Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist–Leninist) (1998)
• Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist)
• Nepal Communist Party
• List of communist parties in Nepal

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist)|Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)}}

• {{official website}} (in English and Nepalese)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090614070503/http://www.nepaldemocracy.org/institutions/major_parties.htm#cpnuml Information on the party from FES] (archived)

{{political parties in Nepal}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist)}}

Category:1991 establishments in Nepal

Category:2018 disestablishments in Nepal

Category:2021 establishments in Nepal

Category:Communist parties in Nepal

Category:Political parties disestablished in 2018

Category:Political parties established in 1991

Category:Political parties established in 2021

Category:International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties