Nepal unrest: Another flare-up brewing as Oli, Prachanda, Deuba refuse to…, Gen-Z protesters demand…

Nepal Gen-Z protest: Nepal, which recently witnessed violent anti-government protests that led to the fall of the KP Sharma Oli regime, could witness another flare-up as the country’s political elite are reportedly unwilling to relinquish their positions in their respective parties, which was one of the major demands of Gen-Z protesters who led the agitation.

Is another political unrest brewing in Nepal?

According to Kathmandu-based daily myRepublica, major political parties, including the Nepal Communist Party (UML), the Nepal Communist Party (Centre) and the Nepal Congress, who have ruled the country for the last two decades, are reluctant to loosen their grip on national politics, as they hope to return to power in elections next year.

As per Nepalese media reports, former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who heads the Nepali Congress, has refused to step aside as the head of Nepal’s largest political party, even as to race to succeed the aging leader has heated up within party ranks, with several leaders staking their claim.

Why Oli, Deuba, Prachanda refuse to step down?

Following the toppling of KP Sharma Oli, Nepal Congress general secretaries Gagan Thapa and Vishwa Prakash Sharma have expressed willingness to address issues within party ranks and the need to reconnect with the masses, while Deuba, who along with his wife and former foreign minister Arzu Rana Deuba, was assaulted by a mob of protesters during the two-day agitation, has maintained silence on these matters.

Similarly, ousted Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who leads Communist Party of Nepal-UML (CPN-UML), has reported refused to resign from the party’s leadership, with party insiders asserting that the former PM will not step away “at any cost”. Oli, who was forced to flee to an unknown secret location after protesters stormed his house, has cut off contact with party leaders, according to insiders.

According to media reports, dissension has also surfaced within the CPN (Maoist Center), as younger leaders like Deputy General Secretary Janardan Sharma, have demanded the resignation of Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda– another former PM– from party’s leadership. However, akin to Oli and Deuba, Prachanda has also refused to step down and is awaiting next year’s elections, in which he believes the party will come to power and secure the most seats.

How Nepal could witness more protests?

Earlier reports suggested a major shift in Nepal’s political landscape as the country’s top political parties mulled to “retire” six former Prime Ministers, including KP Sharma Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

The developments which could trigger another political unrest in Nepal, come days after former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as Nepal’s first woman prime minister. Karki, 73, assumed office on Sunday, ending days of political uncertainty after the abrupt resignation of prime minister KP Sharma Oli earlier this week following wide-spread anti-government protests.

Nepalese youth have accused the ruling elite of “looting” the country’s masses, while their kin “shamelessly” flaunt expensive luxury cars, throw rave parties in exotic locations, and live opulent lives, even as commoners struggle for jobs and fail to make ends meet on a daily basis.