KATHMANDU: General Secretary of the CPN-UML, Shankar Pokharel, has said the rise of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is built on populism and opportunism.
Addressing a virtual meeting of provincial and district leaders, Pokharel claimed that new political forces have emerged on the foundation of “populism and anarchism,” indirectly referring to the RSP.
He alleged that the party is a coalition of populists and opportunists lacking clear ideology, principles, and long-term political vision related to the nation and nationalism.
Pokharel argued that such forces tend to gain quick popularity by making promises of immediate results but often fail to deliver in practice.
He also accused the RSP of misleading voters through campaign narratives targeting UML Chair KP Sharma Oli, particularly by promoting slogans contrasting “new versus old faces.”
According to him, such messaging, widely circulated through digital platforms, represents a form of populist politics aimed at influencing public perception.
Despite the criticism, Pokharel said the UML respects the public mandate and maintained that voters have not severed ties with the party.
He added that UML maintains a presence across communities and households and will now intensify its organizational efforts with a renewed approach.
Pokharel expressed confidence that once short-term populist forces fail to meet expectations, voters will ultimately return to UML, which he described as a party with stable ideology and strong organizational structure.
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