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Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)

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Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)

The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN (UML)) is a communist political party in Nepal. The party emerged as one of the major parties in Nepal after the end of the Panchayat era. K. P. Sharma Oli has been serving as party chairman since the party's ninth general convention in 2014. The party currently holds 79 seats in the House of Representatives, having won 26 % of the party list votes in the 2022 general election and is the second largest parliamentary group. There have been four prime ministers from the party while the party has led the government six times with the most recent Oli government which was deposed by 2025 Nepalese Gen Z protests. CPN (UML) was the main opposition in 1991 after the first election following the restoration of multi-party democracy. The party led a minority government under Manmohan Adhikari following the 1994 election. The party joined a coalition government with CPN (Maoist) in 2008 in the first elections after the end of the monarchy in Nepal and led two governments under Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal during the term of the 1st Constituent Assembly. The party also led the first government after the promulgation of the new constitution with K. P. Sharma Oli serving as prime minister. Oli again served as prime minister following the 2017 election. The party was formed in January 1991 after the merger of the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist–Leninist). The party merged with CPN (Maoist Centre) to form the Nepal Communist Party on 17 May 2018 but the new party was dissolved and CPN (UML) was revived by a Supreme Court decision on 8 March 2021. The party claimed to have 650,000 members as of August 2025, down from 855,000 in December 2021. In 2025, the party faced a wave of criticism, including from many other Nepali communist groups, for accusations of engaging in mass nepotism, brutalizing protesters, backsliding democracy, banning social media and becoming the new elite it once overthrew. Its Chairman, K. P. Sharma Oli, resigned and dissolved the cabinet, as per protest demands. Later the parliament was dissolved for a fresh mandate.

Infobox

Abbreviation
CPN (UML)
Chairman
K. P. Sharma Oli
General Secretary
Shankar Pokhrel
Vice-chairman
Prithvi Subba Gurung Bishnu Prasad Paudel Ram Bahadur Thapa Gokarna Bista Raghuji Pant
Parliamentary leader
Ram Bahadur Thapa
Deputy General Secretary
Lekh Raj Bhatta Raghubir Mahaseth Yogesh Bhattarai
Secretary
Mahesh Basnet Padma Kumari Aryal Chhabilal Bishwakarma Sher Dhan Rai Hikmat Kumar Karki Khagaraj Adhikari Yam Lal Kandel Rajan Bhattarai Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal
Founded
6 January 1991 (1991-01-06) (first iteration) 8 March 2021 (2021-03-08) (second iteration)
Dissolved
17 May 2018 (first iteration)
Merger of
CPN (Marxist) CPN (Marxist–Leninist)
Headquarters
Thapathali, Kathmandu
Newspaper
Nawayug
Student wing
ANNFSU
Youth wing
Youth Federation Nepal
Women's wing
All Nepal Women's Association
Labour wing
GEFONT
Membership
650,000 (2025)
Ideology
Communism (Nepali) Marxism–Leninism People's Multiparty Democracy
Political position
Centre-left to left-wing
International affiliation
IMCWP
Colours
Red
ECN Status
National Party (3rd largest)
House of Representatives
25 / 275
National Assembly
11 / 59
Provincial Assemblies
163 / 550
Chief Ministers
3 / 7
Mayors/Chairs
206 / 753
Councillors
11,890 / 35,011

Tables

· Electoral performance › Legislative elections
No.
No.
Election
No.
Leader
%
Constituency votes
% change
Constituency votes
No.
Constituency votes
%
Party list votes
% change
Party list votes
No.
Party list votes
±
1991
1991
Election
1991
Leader
Man Mohan Adhikari
Constituency votes
2,040,102
Constituency votes
27
Seats
69 / 205
Position
2nd
Resulting government
In opposition
1994
1994
Election
1994
Leader
2,352,601
Constituency votes
30
Constituency votes
2
Party list votes
88 / 205
Seats
19
Seats
1st
Position
Minority government
1999
1999
Election
1999
Leader
Madhav Kumar Nepal
Constituency votes
2,728,725
Constituency votes
31
Constituency votes
0
Seats
71 / 205
Seats
17
Position
2nd
Resulting government
In opposition
2008
2008
Election
2008
Leader
2,229,064
Constituency votes
21
Constituency votes
10
Constituency votes
2,183,370
Party list votes
20
Party list votes
108 / 601
Seats
37
Seats
3rd
Position
Coalition government
2013
2013
Election
2013
Leader
Jhala Nath Khanal
Constituency votes
2,492,090
Constituency votes
27
Constituency votes
5
Party list votes
2,239,609
Party list votes
23
Party list votes
3
Seats
175 / 575
Seats
67
Position
2nd
Resulting government
Coalition government
2017
2017
Election
2017
Leader
K. P. Sharma Oli
Constituency votes
3,082,277
Constituency votes
30
Constituency votes
3
Party list votes
3,173,494
Party list votes
33
Party list votes
9
Seats
121 / 275
Seats
54
Position
1st
Resulting government
Coalition government
In opposition
In opposition
Election
In opposition
2022
2022
Election
2022
Leader
3,233,567
Constituency votes
30
Constituency votes
0
Constituency votes
2,845,641
Party list votes
26
Party list votes
6
Party list votes
78 / 275
Seats
43
Seats
2nd
Position
Coalition government
In opposition
In opposition
Election
In opposition
Coalition government
Coalition government
Election
Coalition government
2026
2026
Election
2026
Leader
1,623,159
Constituency votes
15
Constituency votes
15
Constituency votes
1,455,885
Party list votes
13
Party list votes
13
Party list votes
25 / 275
Seats
53
Seats
3rd
Position
In opposition
Election
Leader
Constituency votes
Party list votes
Seats
Position
Resulting government
No.
%
% change
No.
%
% change
No.
±
1991
Man Mohan Adhikari
2,040,102
27
69 / 205
2nd
In opposition
1994
2,352,601
30
2
88 / 205
19
1st
Minority government
1999
Madhav Kumar Nepal
2,728,725
31
0
71 / 205
17
2nd
In opposition
2008
2,229,064
21
10
2,183,370
20
108 / 601
37
3rd
Coalition government
2013
Jhala Nath Khanal
2,492,090
27
5
2,239,609
23
3
175 / 575
67
2nd
Coalition government
2017
K. P. Sharma Oli
3,082,277
30
3
3,173,494
33
9
121 / 275
54
1st
Coalition government
In opposition
2022
3,233,567
30
0
2,845,641
26
6
78 / 275
43
2nd
Coalition government
In opposition
Coalition government
2026
1,623,159
15
15
1,455,885
13
13
25 / 275
53
3rd
In opposition
· Electoral performance › Provincial Assembly
Koshi
Koshi
Provincial Assembly
Koshi
Election
2022
Party list votes
665,460
%
35 ( )
Seats
40 / 93
+/–
11
Status
Leading coalition
Madhesh
Madhesh
Provincial Assembly
Madhesh
Election
351,768
Party list votes
16 ( )
%
23 / 107
Seats
2
+/–
In coalition
Bagmati
Bagmati
Provincial Assembly
Bagmati
Election
594,521
Party list votes
30 ( )
%
27 / 110
Seats
31
+/–
In coalition
Gandaki
Gandaki
Provincial Assembly
Gandaki
Election
349,628
Party list votes
35 ( )
%
22 / 60
Seats
5
+/–
In coalition
Lumbini
Lumbini
Provincial Assembly
Lumbini
Election
570,921
Party list votes
30 ( )
%
29 / 87
Seats
12
+/–
Leading coalition
Karnali
Karnali
Provincial Assembly
Karnali
Election
183,950
Party list votes
31 ( )
%
10 / 53
Seats
15
+/–
Leading coalition
Sudurpashchim
Sudurpashchim
Provincial Assembly
Sudurpashchim
Election
274,675
Party list votes
30 ( )
%
10 / 53
Seats
15
+/–
In coalition
Provincial Assembly
Election
Party list votes
%
Seats
+/–
Status
Koshi
2022
665,460
35 ( )
40 / 93
11
Leading coalition
Madhesh
351,768
16 ( )
23 / 107
2
In coalition
Bagmati
594,521
30 ( )
27 / 110
31
In coalition
Gandaki
349,628
35 ( )
22 / 60
5
In coalition
Lumbini
570,921
30 ( )
29 / 87
12
Leading coalition
Karnali
183,950
31 ( )
10 / 53
15
Leading coalition
Sudurpashchim
274,675
30 ( )
10 / 53
15
In coalition
Best historic result in provincial elections · Electoral performance › Provincial Assembly
Koshi
Koshi
Provincial Assembly
Koshi
Seats/Total
51 / 93
Party list vote %
38 ( )
Election
2017
Parliamentary Party leader
Sher Dhan Rai Bhim Acharya
Madhesh
Madhesh
Provincial Assembly
Madhesh
Seats/Total
23 / 107
Party list vote %
16 ( )
Election
2022
Parliamentary Party leader
Saroj Kumar Yadav
Bagmati
Bagmati
Provincial Assembly
Bagmati
Seats/Total
58 / 110
Party list vote %
35 ( )
Election
2017
Parliamentary Party leader
Dormani Poudel Astalaxmi Shakya
Gandaki
Gandaki
Provincial Assembly
Gandaki
Seats/Total
27 / 60
Party list vote %
39 ( )
Election
2017
Parliamentary Party leader
Prithvi Subba Gurung
Lumbini
Lumbini
Provincial Assembly
Lumbini
Seats/Total
41 / 87
Party list vote %
33 ( )
Election
2017
Parliamentary Party leader
Shankar Pokharel
Karnali
Karnali
Provincial Assembly
Karnali
Seats/Total
20 / 40
Party list vote %
34 ( )
Election
2017
Parliamentary Party leader
Yam Lal Kandel
Sudurpashchim
Sudurpashchim
Provincial Assembly
Sudurpashchim
Seats/Total
25 / 53
Party list vote %
32 ( )
Election
2017
Parliamentary Party leader
Prakash Bahadur Shah
Provincial Assembly
Seats/Total
Party list vote %
Election
Parliamentary Party leader
Koshi
51 / 93
38 ( )
2017
Sher Dhan Rai Bhim Acharya
Madhesh
23 / 107
16 ( )
2022
Saroj Kumar Yadav
Bagmati
58 / 110
35 ( )
2017
Dormani Poudel Astalaxmi Shakya
Gandaki
27 / 60
39 ( )
2017
Prithvi Subba Gurung
Lumbini
41 / 87
33 ( )
2017
Shankar Pokharel
Karnali
20 / 40
34 ( )
2017
Yam Lal Kandel
Sudurpashchim
25 / 53
32 ( )
2017
Prakash Bahadur Shah
· Electoral performance › Local election
#
#
Election
#
Leader(s)
±
Council Head
#
Council Head
±
Council Deputy
#
Council Deputy
±
2017
2017
Election
2017
Leader(s)
K. P. Sharma Oli
Council Head
294 / 753
Council Deputy
331 / 753
Councillors
14,097 / 35,038
Position
1st
2022
2022
Election
2022
Leader(s)
K. P. Sharma Oli
Council Head
206 / 753
Council Head
90
Council Deputy
240 / 753
Council Deputy
108
Councillors
11,890 / 35,011
Councillors
2,207
Position
2nd
Election
Leader(s)
Council Head
Council Deputy
Councillors
Position
#
±
#
±
#
±
2017
K. P. Sharma Oli
294 / 753
331 / 753
14,097 / 35,038
1st
2022
K. P. Sharma Oli
206 / 753
90
240 / 753
108
11,890 / 35,011
2,207
2nd
· Leadership › Prime Ministers of Nepal
Start
Start
No.
Start
Prime Minister
End
2
2
No.
2
Prime Minister
Madhav Kumar Nepal
Term in office
25 May 2009
Term in office
6 February 2011
Term in office
1 year, 257 days
Legislature
1st Constituent Assembly
Cabinet
Madhav Nepal, 2009
Constituency
Nominated
3
3
No.
3
Prime Minister
Jhala Nath Khanal
Term in office
6 February 2011
Term in office
29 August 2011
Term in office
204 days
Legislature
1st Constituent Assembly
Cabinet
Khanal, 2011
Constituency
Ilam 1
4
4
No.
4
Prime Minister
K. P. Sharma Oli
Term in office
12 October 2015
Term in office
4 August 2016
Term in office
297 days
Legislature
Legislature Parliament
Cabinet
Oli, 2015
Constituency
Jhapa 7
15 February 2018
15 February 2018
No.
15 February 2018
Prime Minister
13 May 2021
Term in office
1st Federal Parliament
Term in office
Oli, 2018
Term in office
Jhapa 5
13 May 2021
13 May 2021
No.
13 May 2021
Prime Minister
13 July 2021
15 July 2024
15 July 2024
No.
15 July 2024
Prime Minister
13 September 2025
Term in office
2nd Federal Parliament
Term in office
Oli, 2024
No.
Prime Minister
Portrait
Term in office
Legislature
Cabinet
Constituency
Start
End
Tenure
1
Man Mohan Adhikari
30 November 1994
12 September 1995
286 days
3rd House of Representatives
Adhikari, 1994
Kathmandu 3
2
Madhav Kumar Nepal
25 May 2009
6 February 2011
1 year, 257 days
1st Constituent Assembly
Madhav Nepal, 2009
Nominated
3
Jhala Nath Khanal
6 February 2011
29 August 2011
204 days
1st Constituent Assembly
Khanal, 2011
Ilam 1
4
K. P. Sharma Oli
12 October 2015
4 August 2016
297 days
Legislature Parliament
Oli, 2015
Jhapa 7
15 February 2018
13 May 2021
3 years, 148 days
1st Federal Parliament
Oli, 2018
Jhapa 5
13 May 2021
13 July 2021
Oli, 2021
15 July 2024
13 September 2025
1 year, 313 days
2nd Federal Parliament
Oli, 2024

References

  1. Nepali: नेपाल कम्युनिष्ट पार्टी (एकीकृत मार्क्सवादी-लेनिनवादी), romanized: Nēpāl Kamyuniṣṭ Pārṭī (Ēkīkṛt Mārksavādī-Lēni
  2. "UML National General Convention: KP Oli wins against Bhim Rawal by sweeping majority"
    https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/uml-national-general-convention-kp-oli-wins-against-bhim-rawal-by-sweeping-majority
  3. "A Censorship Playbook Fails in Nepal, Sparking Unrest"
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/world/asia/nepal-protests-social-media-ban-censorship.html
  4. "Mainstreaming of Social Protection Agenda in the Political Parties' Election Manifesto in Nepal"
    https://www.academia.edu/106495973/Mainstreaming_of_Social_Protection_Agenda_in_the_Political_Parties_Election_Manifesto_in_Nepal#outer_page_3
  6. Political Parties of Nepal
  7. Insight on Conflict
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170912012338/https://www.insightonconflict.org/conflicts/nepal/conflict-profile/key-people-and-parties/
  8. RFI
    http://www1.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/100/article_46.asp
  10. nepaliheadlines
    http://nepaliheadlines.com/kp-oli-elected-uml-chairman/
  11. "Proportional representation votes counted, 7 parties become national parties - OnlineKhabar English News"
    https://english.onlinekhabar.com/proportional-representation-votes-nep.html
  12. Xinhua
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180517205814/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-05/18/c_137187121.htm
  13. EIU
    https://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=470808630
  14. Gorkhapatra
    https://beta.gorkhapatraonline.com/viewer?file=https://beta.gorkhapatraonline.com/ArchiveNewsFile/61aff9d050832_gopa_pdf.pdf
  15. ekagaj
    https://ekagaj.com/article/party/154592/?fbclid=IwAR38Rk-hv6-dmHB-Ot6l0usvsxLNrwYhcaOM681kRgCtHMyZQH2gebavnlE?v=1
  16. Onlinekhabar
    https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2025/07/1727343/uml-party-members-reach-650000-general-secretary-pokharel
  17. Climate Change and Law Collection
    https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004322714_cclc_2015-0011-005
  18. Parajulee, Ramjee P.. The Democratic Transition in Nepal. Rowman & Littlefield, 2000. p. 72
  19. The Record
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230715132255/https://www.recordnepal.com/oli-and-the-jhapa-rebellion
  20. Nepali Times
    https://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=2843
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