Shekhar Koirala steps up talks with opposition as rift with ruling coalition deepens

KATHMANDU: Dissatisfied with the functioning of the ruling coalition, Nepali Congress leader and Member of Parliament Dr. Shekhar Koirala has intensified dialogue with leaders outside the government.

On Thursday, he held a two-hour long meeting with CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ at the latter’s residence in Khumaltar. His political engagements continued into Friday as well.

On Friday morning, Koirala visited former President Bidhya Devi Bhandari at her residence in Bhangaal, Budhanilkantha Municipality.

Bhandari, who is eying a comeback to active politics and pushing to rejoin the UML fold, discussed various political matters with Koirala. While both leaders’ secretariats confirmed the meeting, they refrained from sharing further details.

Sources familiar with the meeting said the two discussed the country’s political situation, growing public discontent, and the government’s failure to deliver on governance, development, and economic reform.

Bhandari, who renewed her UML membership at a Madan Bhandari Foundation event on June 28, had publicly announced her return to active politics. However, UML’s secretariat meeting on Thursday decided not to allow her to participate in the upcoming statute convention in December, citing her non-delegate status from the 10th General Convention in Chitwan.

In his meeting with Dahal a day earlier, Koirala reportedly expressed concerns about the government’s failure to perform effectively, rising public anger, and the involvement of ministers in corruption scandals. The two also discussed the lack of good governance and sluggish economic recovery.

Dahal himself has accused the current government of derailing and vowed to bring it down through a political storm. His rhetoric has intensified as the anniversary of the government’s formation nears.

Koirala has long been critical of the coalition, despite it being one he helped build. While once advocating for a Nepali Congress-UML alliance, even managing to form a government in Koshi Province with UML’s support, he now appears disillusioned with the direction the current ruling alliance has taken.