A month after completing its mid-hill march, the CPN-UML is preparing to hit the streets against the Pushpa Kamal Dahal administration, arguing that it has failed on all fronts.

The second largest party in the federal parliament has called meetings of its secretariat and the central committee to decide the modality of the protest and its commencement date. Along with mass meetings, the KP Sharma Oli-led party prepares to parade its supporters in the streets if necessary.

Rajendra Gautam, the party’s publicity department chief, said the UML deems it necessary to wake up the government, which is in a deep slumber.

“The incumbent government has failed miserably on all fronts. High inflation, poor economic conditions, lack of job opportunities and corruption have left the general public in the lurch but the government is a mere spectator,” he told the Post. “We will voice these issues from both Parliament and the streets.”

He said the party’s secretariat meeting to be held next week will take a formal decision on the protests. The detailed modality will be finalised by the central committee to be held by mid-February. The protests will commence immediately after the central committee meeting.

Oli on Thursday had given a hint about the protest.

Addressing a meeting of the UML-affiliated sports association, Oli said the Dahal-led government would be unseated by breaking up the ruling alliance.

"We are on mission chaurasi [2027]. However, we might have to step in early, given the country's present situation. How can we wait until the next election if the country continues to be ruined [at the hand of the present alliance]?” he said. “We might have to break this alliance with public support. We need to organise ourselves for that.”

Along with other parties, the UML is also holding different campaigns called mission "chaurasi", the year of the next periodic election.

The UML, starting on November 30, had conducted its Jhulaghat-Chiwa Bhanjyang March for Prosperity. The 18-day-long campaign that commenced in Jhulaghat of Baitadi district ended on December 18 at Chiwa Bhanjyang in Panchthar district with a national flag hoisting ceremony.

Oli had addressed 22 mass gatherings and dozens of corner meetings during the campaign.

The Oli-led march interacted with local communities in 26 districts connected by the Mid-Hill Highway, also called Pushpa Lal Highway, named after the Nepal Communist Party founder Pushpa Lal Shrestha. Dozens of party leaders and cadres covered 1,771 kilometres from the country’s far west to its far east.

Making the takeaway from the march public, the UML leadership had claimed the people in the hills were living in hardship and were disappointed by the Dahal government. The party leadership also said the people had showered overwhelming support for it and wanted to see the UML in power.

Gautam claimed that the general public wants the UML to pressure the government through various platforms to perform its duties. If his statement is anything to go by, the UML will act tough against the government in the winter session of Parliament.

The government is waiting for the National Assembly elections to be over to call the new session of Parliament. The President, on the government's recommendation, summons the House sessions. It is likely that the bill session will begin on February 1. The Election Commission is holding the polls to elect 19 members of the 59-strong Assembly on January 25.

Though the CPN (Maoist Centre) contested the 2022 elections by forming a pre-alliance with the Nepali Congress, Dahal in December 2022 became the prime minister with the UML's support. But the political equation didn't last more than two months after Dahal's party rejoined the Congress-led alliance while electing the President. Consequently, the UML quit the government and took the opposition seat.

The differences between the two communist parties triggered by the presidential elections have only widened over the months. The UML has used both the Parliament floor and the streets to exert pressure on the government. It had earlier obstructed the federal parliamentary proceedings multiple times, raising a number of issues.