KATHMANDU: The plan to form a new political party uniting Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah, former Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Sumana Shrestha, and Gen-Z leader Sudan Gurung has fallen apart at the last minute due to disputes over the party’s name and leadership.
According to sources close to the leaders, the four had reached an understanding on Sunday morning at Ghising’s residence to register a new party on Monday, representing the Gen-Z movement. However, the agreement collapsed by evening after disagreements emerged among Ghising’s supporters.
Dispute over party name and leadership
The core disagreement centered on whether the new party should carry Ghising’s “Ujyaloo Nepal” campaign name or a new GenZ-aligned identity. Ghising’s supporters insisted that the party should retain the Ujyaloo Nepal brand, while Balen, Sumana, and Sudan argued for a neutral name that represented the GenZ generation’s reformist spirit rather than any single individual.
During the morning meeting, all sides had reportedly agreed that the new party would symbolize Gen Z’s political awakening, with leadership selected through consensus. But later in the day, Ghising’s close aides and some advisors pushed to keep Ujyaloo Nepal as the official party name and for Ghising to remain the top leader, a position rejected by the other three.
A source close to Ghising said, “Everything was settled in the morning. But in the evening, Ghising’s camp reversed the agreement, insisting on registering Ujyaloo Nepal under his leadership. That’s when Balen, Sumana, and Sudan decided to walk away.”
Balen and Sumana push for new identity
At the later meeting held in a hotel in Bouddha, Mayor Balen and Sumana reportedly took a firm stance that the party must represent a new generation of leadership rather than revolve around a single figure.
“If the party carries a personal brand, it will alienate GenZ supporters,” Sumana was quoted as saying. “We need a name that reflects service and progress, not a personality cult.”
Names such as Pragatisheel Party and Janasewa Party were floated as alternatives. However, Ghising’s group refused to drop Ujyaloo Nepal.
Balen argued that the new force should emerge from the Gen Z movement’s vision, not from the reputation of an existing leader. “If this starts as someone’s personal party, it won’t carry the momentum of the movement,” he reportedly told the meeting.
Two parties likely to emerge
Following the breakdown, two separate political parties are now expected to be registered. One will reportedly be led by Ghising, with former Energy Secretary Anup Kumar Upadhyay coordinating, under the Ujyaloo Nepal banner. The other, backed by Balen, Sumana, and Sudhan, will register separately, emphasizing GenZ-driven reform and collective leadership.
While Ghising retains support from several provincial coordinators of the Council of GenZ, sources say Sumana and Sudhan plan to move forward with their own party identity, with Balen expected to play a strategic but less visible role.
If no further compromise is reached, both factions are expected to register their parties by Tuesday, setting the stage for the emergence of two parallel youth-led movements in Nepali politics.
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