KATHMANDU: Former minister Kulman Ghising is set to formally assume the post of chairperson of the Ujyalo Nepal Party following the collapse of the party’s short-lived unity with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).
The party is scheduled to officially welcome Ghising as its chair on Saturday. According to Ujyalo Nepal Central Committee member Dr Mahendra Lawati, a press meet with the newly appointed chair will be held this evening.
The press interaction is scheduled for 6 pm on Saturday at the party’s central office in Tripureshwar. Lawati said that under Ghising’s leadership, Ujyalo Nepal will now focus on future political activities and strengthening the party organization.
The unity agreement reached on Poush 14 between Ujyalo Nepal and the RSP collapsed within two weeks after talks between RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane and Ghising on Friday and Saturday failed to reach any conclusion.
Ghising had resigned from three ministerial portfolios, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, after facing heavy criticism for joining the Citizens’ Government led by Sushila Karki with party representation, and had entered negotiations with the RSP thereafter.
Under the unity deal reached on December 29, 2025, Ghising, who is also the patron of Ujyalo Nepal, was to be made vice-chair of the RSP. However, disagreements soon emerged over ideology, leadership structure and party organization.
Ghising had demanded that the RSP change its ideological orientation, calling for it to be turned into a left-leaning party instead of a democratic one. He had also sought a 33-member central committee, the posts of senior vice-chair and one general secretary, and proposed that the party formally adopt socialism as its guiding ideology.
Although Sudan Gurung had facilitated the unity agreement, disputes over ideology and power-sharing eventually led to the collapse of the merger.
Following the breakdown, Ghising is now set to lead Ujyalo Nepal independently as it prepares to chart its future political course.
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