The first session of the House of Representatives following the March 5 elections commenced on Thursday at the Federal Parliament Building in Singhadurbar. The session was summoned by President Ramchandra Paudel on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, in accordance with the Constitution of Nepal. The meeting was presided over by the senior-most member of the House, Arjun Narsingha KC.
Despite the formal opening, the session was immediately disrupted by protests from the CPN-UML. As soon as proceedings began, UML lawmaker Guru Baral rose to obstruct the House, prompting the Speaker to grant him time to speak. The opposition expressed strong objections to the recent arrests of CPN-UML Chairperson and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, as well as Nepali Congress leader and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak.
Baral alleged that both leaders had been detained by misusing Sections 181 and 182 of the Civil Code, calling it a matter of “grave concern.” He claimed that protests were taking place nationwide and accused the government of suppressing them, demanding their immediate release.
In a powerful address to the first session, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane asserted that his party carries a historic mandate to transform the country’s administrative core, Singhadurbar, rather than simply occupying it. Lamichhane emphasized that the RSP has already begun the process of reform and pledged that his party would repay the voters’ trust through responsible governance.
He issued a rare challenge to the opposition, inviting them to maintain a strict, 24-hour watch over his party’s actions to ensure total accountability. He reminded his fellow lawmakers that while their physical seats in Parliament have changed, their moral obligation to answer the public’s questions remains the same. He warned that failing this “massive mandate” would leave them permanently stigmatized by history.
Regarding the arrests of Oli and Lekhak, Lamichhane firmly rejected claims of political vendetta. Citing the GenZ protests of September last year, he asserted that the first right to justice belongs to the mothers of martyrs and urged the opposition to respect the rule of law rather than blaming “foreign interference” for their political setbacks.
In a notable moment, Lamichhane issued a public apology from the parliamentary rostrum to the Dalit community for centuries of systemic injustice, describing it as “organized crime.” He pledged that no citizen would face discrimination based on caste under the current leadership and committed to ending political retaliation through the misuse of laws and ordinances.
He also assured a fair parliamentary environment, stating that dissenting voices would not be silenced and that a majority would not be used to harass the opposition. He reiterated his commitment to transparent governance and a foreign policy guided by national interest, while assuring investors of a secure and predictable environment.
Main opposition Nepali Congress lawmaker Bhishma Raj Angdembe extended his best wishes to Prime Minister Balendra Shah for completing a full five-year term, noting that no prime minister in the past 75 years has done so. At the same time, he cautioned against unconstitutional practices.
While expressing support for national progress, Angdembe rejected claims that the past 35 years had yielded no achievements, urging the government to acknowledge past progress while addressing remaining challenges. He also questioned the government’s transparency regarding the GenZ protests, asking whether the investigative commission’s report would be made public.
Raising concerns about the Gauri Bahadur Karki Commission, Angdembe accused it of bias, saying it focused on state suppression on Sept 8 but did not adequately investigate the arson and destruction of key government buildings, including Singhadurbar, on Sept 9. He stressed the need for a comprehensive and impartial investigation into both incidents.
Meanwhile, CPN-UML Parliamentary Party leader Ram Bahadur Thapa delivered a scathing critique of the current political transition, alleging that the GenZ movement on Sept 8 and 9 was an unannounced ‘Color Revolution’ orchestrated by the RSP. While formally congratulating Prime Minister Shah on his historic appointment and the RSP on the success in the March 5 election, Thapa claimed that this ‘magical victory’ was bolstered by decisive internal support from the Nepali Army, the bureaucracy, the Sushila Karki cabinet, the Barbara Foundation, and various NGOs. He further alleged that external ‘invisible powers’ used AI, algorithms, and Goebbels-style propaganda to frame champions of democracy as villains and murderers while elevating those seeking to ‘burn the country’ to the status of heroes.
In a series of pointed questions directed at the state, the UML leader demanded to know the true objectives behind the arson attacks on key state institutions like Singhadurbar, Shital Niwas, Baluwatar, and the Supreme Court, as well as the mysterious appearance of armed groups during the protests. He fiercely condemned the ‘illegal arrest’ of Oli and Lekhak, labeling it a conspiracy to dismantle established political leadership through a ‘cycle of state terror’ and ‘media trial’.
While acknowledging the temporary defeat of the traditional parties, Thapa warned that the CPN-UML would use its full strength in Parliament to demand answers, concluding that this loss is only a temporary setback and that a defeated army always possesses the potential to turn the tide toward victory.
Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Vice-chair and lawmaker Barshaman Pun delivered a reflective speech, admitting that his party failed to capitalize on the historic mandates it received in the past. Drawing a parallel between the current rise of the RSP and the success of the then-CPN (Maoist) in the 2008 elections, Pun acknowledged that the Maoists held a similar level of overwhelming public trust but were unable to utilize it effectively for the country’s benefit.
He noted that the 2017 electoral alliance and subsequent party unity were also opportunities that the leadership “did not know how to handle” or sustain. Offering a word of caution to the newly dominant RSP, Pun urged them to learn from these past mistakes to ensure that this mandate translates into meaningful progress for the nation, promising that the NCP would provide the necessary cooperation to move the country forward.
Harka Sampang, chair of the Shram Sanskriti Party, launched a poignant critique of the perceived ‘internal discrimination’ within the parliament itself. Responding to earlier remarks by RSP Chair Lamichhane regarding systemic inequality, Sampang argued that a double standard exists where major ruling parties are allotted 30 to 40 minutes to speak while smaller parties are restricted to just a few minutes, asserting that all lawmakers are equally elected by the people and deserve an equal platform.
Beyond parliamentary conduct, Sampang took a hardline nationalist stance by demanding the immediate cancellation of the “unequal and treasonous” MCC compact, which he claimed undermines Nepal’s non-aligned foreign policy and serves a hidden military strategic purpose.
Outlining his party’s expectations for the new government, he urged Prime Minister Shah to adopt a policy of ‘management over displacement’ regarding landless squatters, calling for an end to the use of dozers against citizens’ homes and demanding the distribution of land ownership certificates instead. He also cautioned the government against making hasty, unstudied decisions on sensitive social issues, specifically urging a reconsideration of recent moves involving elderly allowances, student organizations, and bridge course regulations.
Sampang advised the administration to consult thoroughly with the opposition and all stakeholders before implementing major changes, warning that failing to do so would lead to a cycle of making decisions only to be forced into embarrassing retreats later.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leader Gyanendra Shahi offered support for constitutional amendments to abolish the provincial system, arguing that it imposes a heavy financial burden. He also reiterated his party’s position in favor of restoring a constitutional monarchy, while cautioning the government against ignoring public sentiment.
Independent lawmaker Mahabir Pun described himself as a non-partisan figure committed to reform. He said he entered politics following the GenZ movement and briefly served as education minister, during which he initiated reform measures in the education sector. Pun said he had handed over draft reforms to the prime minister’s team and pledged to continue working for systemic change from within Parliament.
In the 275-member House of Representatives, the RSP holds 182 seats, followed by 38 seats for the Nepali Congress, 25 for the UML, 17 for the NCP, seven for the Shram Sanskriti Party, five for the RPP, and one independent member.
The meeting was adjourned and will reconvene on Sunday.
