Ram Bahadur Thapa elected unopposed as UML parliamentary leader

KATHMANDU: Vice-Chair Ram Bahadur Thapa  has been elected as the parliamentary leader of the CPN-UML in the House of Representatives.

Young leader Suhang Nembang, elected from Ilam-2, had challenged the leadership, but no lawmakers came forward to propose or support his candidacy, allowing Thapa to be selected unanimously.

Suhang, who requested an election for the parliamentary leader post, was left isolated, and even two leaders previously seen supporting him stepped back, clearing the path for Thapa to assume leadership of the UML parliamentary faction. Under the direction of UML Chai KP Sharma Oli, potential supporters and proposers for Nembang were reportedly discouraged from participating, effectively preventing a leadership contest.

Thapa, born in Bardagau, Gulmi, previously served as the military commander under Maoist Supreme Commander Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) during the decade-long armed struggle led by the Maoists.

After the split of the Nepal Communist Party in December 2020, he left the Maoists to join the UML and has since remained a close ally of KP Sharma Oli, repeatedly holding ministerial portfolios including Defence and Home Affairs. He now leads the UML parliamentary faction.

He was first elected to the Constituent Assembly from Chitwan-2, did not contest the second CA elections, and held the Defence Ministry when Prachanda became Prime Minister in 2008.