Even though Nepal's three major communist parties—the CPN-UML, Maoist Centre and Unified Socialist—have come together to form the government, KP Oli, the chairman of the largest of them, the UML, has rejected the idea of a communist unity.

The unity among the leftist parties is not the necessity of the present, Oli said while addressing the UML’s parliamentary party on Monday. He, however, said that “there is a need for cooperation among the forces that are in favour of good governance and national unity.”

After Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ditched the alliance with the Nepali Congress and brought the UML and the Unified Socialist on board the government, there were speculations in Kathmandu’s political circles on whether the parties were aiming for a left unity like the one in June 2018.

Back then, Oli and Dahal had decided to merge the two communist parties they led following the 2017 parliamentary elections and formed the Nepal Communist Party, which was later dissolved in March 2021 following the Supreme Court’s verdict.

“Neither can the left unity form a new government nor govern the country. Left parties cannot form and run the government, and in the guise of left unity, many fake things are happening. And some of us are even discussing such fake things,” he said.

Oli also mentioned the historical context of how the NCP was formed and how it was dissolved.

“We know and understand that it was our responsibility to bring communist parties together and unite leftist, progressive, and patriotic movements,” Oli said. “But that unity among the left parties was weakened. We, however, are not responsible for that.”

Oli added that the time is ripe for national forces to come together for the protection of national unity, promotion of good governance, and prosperity. “Unity among such national forces is essential now,” he said. “Not the unity among communist parties.”

After the NCP was dissolved in March 2021, the largest-ever communist party split into three factions—UML, Maoist Centre and the CPN (Unified Socialist), which was formed by a group of leaders who splintered from the UML. After the NCP split, both the Maoist Centre and the Unified Socialist supported the Nepal Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba for the next prime minister.

“We cannot build a party by bringing together those communists who voted for Deuba,” Oli said on Monday.

“Today, there is no such thing as unity in the name of the left-wing parties. We should not have the illusion that the party will be strengthened by uniting with those who voted for the Nepali Congress. We cannot unite the party with those who are looking for opportunities to harm the party.”

The UML chairman also responded to questions such as why the UML did not claim important ministries like home, finance, and others. “The objective of the current political equation is not about frequent changes in government or seeking monetary gains from finance and other ministries,” he said. “We are here to build the country.”

Oli went on, “We are not here to claim this or that ministry. We don’t want to bear the tension and bitterness. That is not our job. Our foremost duty was to knock down the former alliance which was not in favour of the country.”

Oli also said that he is currently not interested in becoming prime minister.

“We only wanted to change the ruling equation,” he said. “The post of prime minister is important because it leads the nation. But at present, it is not my priority.”