Editing Politics of Nepal (section)

==Political conditions==

===2001: Royal Massacre===
{{Main|Nepali royal massacre}}
The Royal Massacre (राजदरबार हत्याकाण्ड) happened
on 1 June 2001, in which members of the royal family, King [[Birendra of Nepal|Birendra]], Queen [[Aishwarya of Nepal|Aishwarya]], Crown Prince [[Dipendra of Nepal|Dipendra]], Prince [[Nirajan]], as well as many others, were killed. However, after the massacre, the Crown Prince survived for a short while in a coma.

Although the prince never regained consciousness before dying, Crown Prince Dipendra was the monarch under the law of Nepali royal succession. Two days later after his death, the late King's surviving brother [[Gyanendra]] was proclaimed as a king.

===2002–2007: suspension of parliament and Loktantra Andolan===
{{Main|2006 democracy movement in Nepal}}
On 22 May 2002 [[Gyanendra of Nepal|King Gyanendra]] suspended the Parliament, appointed a government led by himself, and enforced [[martial law]]. The King argued that civil politicians were unfit to handle the Maoist insurgency. Telephone lines were cut and several high-profile political leaders were detained. Other opposition leaders fled to India and regrouped there. A broad coalition called the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) was formed in opposition to the royal takeover, encompassing the seven parliamentary parties who held about 90% of the seats in the old, dissolved parliament.

The [[OHCHR|Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]], in response to events in Nepal, set up a monitoring program in 2005 to assess and observe the human rights situation there.<ref>[http://www.ohchr.org/english/countries/np/summary.htm Nepal Summary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717103319/http://www.ohchr.org/english/countries/np/summary.htm |date=17 July 2007 }}, OHCHR.</ref>

On 22 November 2005, the [[Seven Party Alliance]] (SPA) of parliamentary parties and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) agreed on a historic and unprecedented 12-point memorandum of understanding (MOU) for peace and democracy. Nepali people from various walks of life and the international community regarded the MOU as an appropriate political response to the crisis that was developing in Nepal. Against the backdrop of the historical sufferings of the Nepali people and the enormous human cost of the last ten years of violent conflict, the MOU, which proposes a peaceful transition through an elected constituent assembly, created an acceptable formula for a united movement for democracy. As per the 12-point MOU, the SPA called for a protest movement, and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) supported it. This led to a countrywide uprising called the [[Loktantra Andolan]] that started in April 2006. All political forces including civil society and professional organisations actively galvanised the people. This resulted in massive and spontaneous demonstrations and rallies held across Nepal against King Gyanendra's autocratic rule.

On 21 April 2006, King Gyanendra declared that "power would be returned to the people". This had little effect on the people, who continued to occupy the streets of Kathmandu and other towns, openly defying the daytime curfew. Finally, King Gyanendra announced the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, thereby conceding one of the major demands of the SPA, at midnight on 24 April 2006. Following this action, the coalition of political forces decided to call off the protests.

At least 14 died during the 19 days of protests.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/04/23/nepal.protests/ |title=Gunbattles, curfew wrack Nepal |date=April 23, 2006 |publisher=[[CNN]] |accessdate=2022-06-10}}</ref>

On 19 May 2006, the parliament assumed total legislative power and gave executive power to the Government of Nepal (previously known as His Majesty's Government). Names of many institutions (including the army) were stripped of the "royal" adjective and the Raj Parishad (a council of the King's advisers) was abolished, with his duties assigned to the Parliament itself. The activities of the King became subject to parliamentary scrutiny and the King's properties were subjected to taxation. Moreover, Nepal was declared a secular state abrogating the previous status of a Hindu Kingdom. However, most of the changes have, as yet, not been implemented.  On 19 July 2006, the prime minister, [[Girija Prasad Koirala|G. P. Koirala]], sent a letter to the United Nations announcing the intention of the Nepali government to hold elections to a constituent assembly by April 2007.

===December 2007 to May 2008: abolition of the monarchy===
On 23 December 2007, an agreement was made for the monarchy to be abolished and the country to become a federal [[republic]] with the Prime Minister becoming [[head of state]].<ref name="Time 20071224">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1698161,00.html |title=Nepal to Abolish Monarchy |first=Binaj |last=Gurubacharya |magazine=Time |date=24 December 2007 |access-date=26 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225150425/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0%2C8599%2C1698161%2C00.html |archive-date=25 December 2007  }}</ref> The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) became the largest party amidst a general atmosphere of fear and intimidation from all sides.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11057207&amp;fsrc=nwl|newspaper=The Economist|title=The Maoists triumph | date=17 April 2008}}</ref> A federal republic was established in May 2008, with only four members of the 601-seat Constituent Assembly voting against the change,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7424302.stm Nepal votes to abolish monarchy] BBC News, 28 May 2008</ref> which ended 240 years of royal rule in Nepal. The government announced a public holiday for three days, (28 – 30 May), to celebrate the country becoming a federal republic.

=== Since 2008 ===
{{More citations needed|date=February 2010}}
Major parties such as the [[Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)]], [[Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist)]] (CPN UML) and the [[Nepali Congress]] agreed to write a constitution to replace the interim constitution<ref>{{Cite web| title=Interim constitution of Nepal | url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Nepal_Interim_Constitution2007.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930035353/http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Nepal_Interim_Constitution2007.pdf | archive-date=2007-09-30}}</ref> within 2 years.

The Maoists, as the largest party of the country, took power right after the elections and named Pushpa Kamal Dahal ([[Prachanda]]) as the prime minister of Nepal. CPN UML also joined this government, but the Nepali Congress took the part of the main opposition party. Prachanda soon fell into a dispute with the then army chief Rookmanda Katwal and decided to sack him. But the [[President (government title)|President]] [[Ram Baran Yadav]], as the supreme head of
military power in the country, revoked this decision and gave the army chief additional time in office. An angry Prachanda and his party quit the government, majorly citing this reason and decided to operate as the main opposition to the government headed by CPN UML and its co-partner Nepali Congress afterward. [[Madhav Kumar Nepal]] was named the Prime Minister.

The Maoists demanded [[Civilian control of the military|civilian supremacy over the army]].

The Maoists forced closures – commonly known as ''bandhs'' – in the country, and also declared autonomous states for almost all the ethnic groups in Nepal.

In May 2012 the constitutional assembly was dissolved and another election to select the new constitutional assembly members were declared by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.

=== Madhes Movement (2007–2016) ===
The [[Madhes Movement]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/tag/madhes-movement/|title=Madhes movement - The Himalayan Times|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en-US|access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref> ([[Nepali language|Nepali]]: मधेस अान्दोलन) is a [[political movement]] launched by various political parties, especially those based in [[Madhesh|Madhes]], for equal rights, dignity and identity of [[Madhesi people|Madhesis]] and [[Tharu people|Tharus]], [[Muslim]]s and Janjati groups in [[Nepal]]. In nearly a decade, Nepal witnessed three Madhes Movements<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.onlinekhabar.com/2017/01/19/394146.html|title=Madhesh Movement: Then n now (Part I of III) – OnlineKhabar|website=english.onlinekhabar.com|language=en-GB|access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.onlinekhabar.com/2017/01/22/394312.html|title=Madhesh Movement: Then n now (Part II of III) – OnlineKhabar|website=english.onlinekhabar.com|language=en-GB|access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref> - the first Madhes Movement erupted in 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=16725#.WerVi2iCxdg|title=Three years later - Nepali Times|website=nepalitimes.com|access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref> the second Madhes Movement in 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=16725#.WerTpWiCxdg|title=Three years later - Nepali Times|website=nepalitimes.com|access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref> and the third Madhes Movement in 2015. About the origin of the first Madhes Movement, Journalist Amarendra Yadav writes in [[The Rising Nepal]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://therisingnepal.org.np/news/17417|title=The Rising Nepal: Ten Years On, Madhes Still In Unrest|website=therisingnepal.org.np|language=en|access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref> "When the then seven-party alliance of the mainstream political parties and the CPN-Maoist jointly announced the Interim Constitution in 2007, it totally ignored the concept of federalism, the most desired political agenda of Madhesis and other marginalised communities. A day after the promulgation of the interim statute, a group of Madhesi activists under the [[Upendra Yadav]]-led [[Madheshi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal|Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal]] (then a socio-intellectual NGO) burnt copies of the interim constitution at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu." This triggered the Madhes movement I.

The second Madhes Movement took place in 2008, jointly launched by [[Madheshi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal|Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal]], [[Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party (2007)|Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party]] and [[Sadbhavana Party|Sadbhawana Party]] led by [[Rajendra Mahato]] with three key agenda: federalism, proportional representation and population-based election constituency, which were later ensured in the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2008.

However, [[Constitution of Nepal 2015|The Constitution of Nepal 2015]] backtracked from those issues, that were already ensured by the Interim [[Constitution of Nepal]] 2008. [[Supreme Court of Nepal]] Advocate [[Dipendra Jha]] writes in The [[The Kathmandu Post|Kathmandu Post:]] "many other aspects of the new constitution are more regressive than the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007. Out of all its deficiencies, the most notable one concerns the issue proportional representation or inclusion in all organs of the state."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2015-09-20/talk-to-the-tarai.html|title=Talk to the Tarai|access-date=21 October 2017|language=en}}</ref> This triggered the third Madhes Movement by Madhesis<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/who-are-the-madhesis-why-are-they-angry/|title=Who are the Madhesis, why are they angry?|date=5 October 2015|work=The Indian Express|access-date=21 October 2017|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/world/asia/nepal-rations-fuel-as-political-crisis-with-india-worsens.html|title=Nepal Rations Fuel as Political Crisis With India Worsens|last1=Sharma|first1=Bhadra|date=28 September 2015|work=The New York Times|access-date=21 October 2017|last2=Najar|first2=Nida|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.madhesiyouth.com/opinion/secret-to-resolving-madhes-andolan/|title=The Secret to Resolving Madhes Andolan III Demands|date=24 November 2015|work=Madhesi Youth|access-date=21 October 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> in Nepal. Although the first amendment to the constitution was done, the resistance over the document by Madhesi and Tharus in Nepal still continues.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://scroll.in/article/802560/interview-for-madhesis-the-first-amendments-to-nepals-new-constitution-are-a-disappointment|title=Interview: 'For Madhesis, the first amendments to Nepal's new Constitution are a disappointment'|last=Yadav|first=Anumeha|work=Scroll.in|access-date=21 October 2017|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thrda.org/resistance-continues-nepal-observes-2nd-anniversary-constitution-promulgation/|title=THRD Alliance Resistance Continues as Nepal Observes the 2nd Anniversary of Constitution Promulgation |website=thrda.org|language=en-US|access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref>

=== From 2017 to 2019 ===

In June 2017, [[Nepali Congress]] leader [[Sher Bahadur Deuba]] was elected the 40th [[Prime Minister of Nepal]], succeeding  prime minister and chairman of [[CPN (Maoist Centre)]] [[Pushpa Kamal Dahal]].  Deuba had been previously prime minister from 1995 to 1997, from 2001 to 2002, and from 2004 to 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2017/06/06/sher-bahadur-deuba-elected-new-pm-of-nepal|title = Sher Bahadur Deuba elected 40th PM of Nepal}}</ref>

In November 2017, Nepal had its first general [[2017 Nepalese general election|election]] since the civil war ended and the monarchy was abolished. The main alternatives were centrist Nepali Congress Party and the alliance of former Maoist rebels and the Communist [[Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)|UML]] party.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42126210|title = Nepal election: First poll since civil war ended|work = BBC News|date = 26 November 2017}}</ref> The alliance of communists won the election, and UML leader [[Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli]] was sworn in February 2018 as the new prime minister. He had previously been prime minister since 2015 until 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12511455|title = Nepal country profile|work = BBC News|date = 19 February 2018}}</ref>

=== 2020: political crisis ===
{{Main article|2020-2021 split in Nepalese Communist Parties}}
Since the inception of [[Nepal Communist Party|NCP]], the struggle for power between the two leaders: [[KP Sharma Oli|Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli]] and [[Pushpa Kamal Dahal]] started. The internal crisis led to dissolution of parliament (both house of representative and lower house of parliament) by [[KP Sharma Oli|Khadga Prasad Oli]] twice within six months. It was approved by the president but [[Supreme Court of Nepal|Supreme court]] denied the legality of such decision by Oli. After the supreme court's historic decision, both the parliaments were reinstated.<ref>{{cite web|title=Observer Research Foundation|url=https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/decoding-tectonic-shifts-nepal-politics/|website=ORF}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Nepal's Supreme Court orders reinstatement of Parliament|work=Aljazeera|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/23/nepal-supreme-court-parliament}}</ref>

After facing the vote for confidence in parliament, Oli lost the vote for confidence. As per the 72(6) of Constitution of Nepal, the opposition was given the opportunity to form a new government by President [[Bidya Devi Bhandari]]. The opposition and they could not construct the new government as they lacked support of one faction from [[People's Socialist Party, Nepal (2020)|Janata Samajbadi Party]]. As a result, the party got divide and [[Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Nepal]] was formed after nearly a month.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Nepal Prime Minister Oli loses vote of confidence in Parliament|work=The Kathmandu Post|url=https://kathmandupost.com/politics/2021/05/11/nepal-prime-minister-oli-loses-vote-of-confidence-in-parliament}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=PM Oli loses confidence vote|work=The Himalayan Times|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/pm-olis-floor-test-ends-winsloses-vote-of-confidence}}</ref>

As a result, Khadga Prasad Oli was sworn in again as the prime minister of Nepal.<ref>{{Cite news|title=KP Oli sworn in as Nepal's PM days after losing vote of confidence in Parliament; retains Cabinet|work=First Post|url=https://www.firstpost.com/world/kp-oli-sworn-in-as-nepals-pm-days-after-losing-vote-of-confidence-in-parliament-retains-cabinet-9622441.html}}</ref> He dissolved the parliament on 22 May 2021 for second time rather than taking vote of confidence. This time as well, it was approved by president unanimously against the signatures submitted claiming majority to [[Nepali Congress|NC]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Nepal's parliament dissolved, president calls for fresh elections|date=2021-05-22|url=https://www.dw.com/en/nepals-parliament-dissolved-president-calls-for-fresh-elections/a-57628429|access-date=2021-06-23|website=Deutsche Welle|language=en-GB}}</ref> Still, 146 of the total 275 sitting members of [[House of Representatives (Nepal)|HOR]] filed a case in supreme court against the decision and approval of president. Previously, they had submitted majority signatures to president asking to appoint [[Sher Bahadur Deuba]] as the next prime minister of Nepal.

On 4 June 2021, a major cabinet re-shuffle took place when so called Madhesbani leader Rajendra Mahato led faction of [[People's Socialist Party, Nepal (2020)|PSP-N]] joined the government with eight cabinet ministers and two state ministers while other five from [[Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)|CPN (UML)]]. Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Raghubir Mahasheth and Rajendra Mahato were made Deputy Prime-minister.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nepal: New ministers to be sworn in today as PM Oli will reshuffle cabinet|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/nepal-new-ministers-to-be-sworn-in-today-as-pm-oli-will-reshuffle-cabinet20210604194642/|access-date=2021-06-23|website=ANI News|language=en}}</ref> While the previous expansion was yet to be clarified by the Supreme Court, Oli made yet another re-shuffle and included seven ministers from UML and one from PSP-N.<ref>{{cite web|title=While he has yet to clarify his June 4 Cabinet expansion, Oli does it again|url=https://kathmandupost.com/politics/2021/06/11/while-he-has-yet-to-clarify-his-june-4-cabinet-expansion-oli-does-it-again|access-date=2021-06-23|website=kathmandupost.com|language=English}}</ref> On 22 June, Supreme Court delivered a fresh blow to embattled Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli 20 removing recently appointed ministers. It revealed a care-taker prime-minister cannot make such change as per article 77(3) of Constitution of Nepal.<ref>{{cite web|title=मन्त्रिपरिषद् विस्तारविरुद्ध सर्वोच्चको अन्तरिम आदेश : २० मन्त्री जिम्मेवारीमुक्त (आदेशको पूर्णपाठ)|url=http://annapurnapost.com/news/181802|access-date=2021-06-23|website=मन्त्रिपरिषद् विस्तारविरुद्ध सर्वोच्चको अन्तरिम आदेश : २० मन्त्री जिम्मेवारीमुक्त (आदेशको पूर्णपाठ)|language=en}}</ref> &nbsp;By the end, only five ministers are present in Council of ministers including sitting PM Oli while deputy prime minister post of Bishnu Prasad Paudel was removed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cabinet has only five members, while Bishnu Poudel is only Minister|url=https://english.nepalpage.com/2021/06/cabinet-has-only-five-members-while-bishnu-poudel-is-still-the-deputy-prime-minister/|access-date=2021-06-23|website=Nepal Page English|date=22 June 2021|language=en}}</ref>

=== Present (2021–) ===
{{See also|2021 split in Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist)}}
On 12 July 2021, the Supreme Court stated the decision to dissolve parliament was unlawful.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 12, 2021|title=Sher Bahadur Deuba: Nepal's Supreme Court orders appointment of Sher Bahadur Deuba as Prime Minister |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/nepals-supreme-court-reinstates-dissolved-house-of-representatives/articleshow/84338530.cms|access-date=2021-07-13|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> Similarly, it ordered the appointment Deuba as the next [[Prime Minister of Nepal]] citing article 76(5) of the [[Constitution of Nepal]] within 28 hours.<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-07-12|title=Nepal SC orders to appoint Sher Bahadur Deuba as PM within next 28 hours|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/nepal-sc-orders-to-appoint-sher-bahadur-deuba-as-pm-within-next-28-hours-101626077841170.html|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> It stated that the decision made by the president was against the norms of the constitution.<ref>{{cite web|last=रातोपाटी|title=संवैधानिक इजलासले भन्यो- राष्ट्रपतिको निर्णय संविधान र ऐन प्रतिकुल|url=https://ratopati.com/story/189446/2021/7/12/suprem-court|access-date=2021-07-13|website=RatoPati|language=Nepali}}</ref> This was celebrated by the then opposition alliance led by the Nepali Congress including allies [[Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)|CPN (Maoist-Centre)]] and the [[Janata Samajbadi Party]]. On 13 July 2021, President [[Bidya Devi Bhandari]] appointed [[Sher Bahadur Deuba]] as the Prime Minister without including any article of Constitution and stating as per the order of Court. This created cold dispute and people alleged President Bhandari of forgetting her limits and being tilted to [[KP Sharma Oli|ex-PM Oli]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-07-13|title=After brief delay, Sher Bahadur Deuba takes oath as Nepal's PM for fifth time|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/nepals-newly-appointed-pm-sher-bahadur-deuba-refuses-to-take-oath-demands-correction-in-appointment-letter-101626185026637.html|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> After Deuba declined to take the oath as per the appointment letter, the letter was changed and stated that Deuba was made PM in accordance with article 76(5), marking Deuba's fifth term as PM. On 13 July 2021, Sher Bahadur Deuba was sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister for fifth time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sher Bahadur Deuba sworn in as Nepal prime minister, for fifth time |url=https://kathmandupost.com/politics/2021/07/13/sher-bahadur-deuba-sworn-in-as-nepal-prime-minister-for-fifth-time |work=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}</ref>

In December 2022, former Maoist guerilla chief, [[Pushpa Kamal Dahal]] aka [[Prachanda]], became the new prime minister after the [[2022 Nepalese general election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Rebel Leader Becomes Nepal's New PM |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/former-rebel-leader-becomes-nepal-s-new-pm-/6890926.html |work=VOA |language=en}}</ref> In March 2023, [[Ram Chandra Poudel|Ram Chandra Paudel]] of Nepali Congress was [[2023 Nepalese presidential election|elected]] as Nepal’s third president to succeed Bidya Devi Bhandari.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nepal elects new president amid split in the governing coalition |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/9/nepal-elects-its-new-president-ram-chandra-paudel |work=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>

On 15 July 2024, [[K. P. Sharma Oli]] was sworn in as Nepali prime minister for fourth time. New coalition was formed between Nepali Congress, led by [[Sher Bahadur Deuba]], and UML, led by Oli. The party leaders will take turns as prime ministers for 18 months each until the next general elections in 2027.<ref>{{cite news |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 |work=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}</ref>