The Karnali Provincial Assembly has remained paralysed for the past four months after the arson and vandalism during Gen Z protests rendered the assembly hall unusable. The sixth session of the second term of the provincial legislature ended on August 6, and no meeting has been held since.

On September 9, demonstrators set the provincial assembly on fire, destroying key infrastructure. Of the 23 blocks of the provincial assembly, the main chamber, secretariat, meeting halls, the offices of three parliamentary parties, and two thematic committee buildings were completely gutted. As a result, the Karnali provincial government has been unable to call the next session.

Since the blaze, only the daily administrative work and meetings of parliamentary committees have continued. “Most offices, documents, furniture, computers, and electrical equipment were destroyed, leaving the future of the assembly session in limbo,” said Netra Bahadur Karki, spokesperson for the Provincial Assembly Secretariat.

“Until last year, the assembly session would usually resume right after Dashain–Tihar (two major Hindu festivals that generally fall in the month of September-October). Without reconstruction, it is impossible to call an assembly session here. Discussions are underway on arranging an alternative venue,” said Karki.

According to Karki, the constitution requires the assembly to convene a session within six months, meaning the provincial government must summon one by February 4, 2026.

With no sittings being held, lawmakers have unexpectedly found themselves with free time. “If sessions were taking place, we would have been stationed in Surkhet,” said Provincial Assembly Member Bedraj Singh. “Now most of us are busy attending events in our home districts.”

The suspension of assembly meetings has prevented lawmakers from raising public concerns, questioning the government, or deliberating on proposed laws, said Assembly Member Kal Bahadur Hamal. “With no assembly, we have been occupied with party and personal work instead,” he said. “Our stays in the provincial capital have also decreased.”

According to the Assembly Secretariat, initial estimates place the loss caused by arson and vandalism at nearly Rs40 million. Chief Minister Yam Lal Kandel has directed authorities to proceed with the reconstruction, assuring that there will be no budget constraints. However, reconstruction has yet to begin, said Secretariat Secretary Jibaraj Budhathoki.

“All documents were burned, so we have to start everything from zero,” he said. “There has been no discussion yet on when and where the next assembly meeting will be held.”

Budhathoki said the government is considering several buildings—including those of various ministries or directorates, the District Coordination Committee hall, and the City Hall—as temporary alternatives for hosting assembly sittings.

Provincial assembly committees remain active

In the absence of full assembly sessions, provincial assembly committees in Karnali have become more active. The province currently has four committees–the Social Development Committee, the Finance and Natural Resources Committee, the Provincial Affairs and Legislation Committee, and the Public Accounts Committee.

Since the protests, these committees have held 28 meetings since the Gen Z movement, according to the Secretariat. The Social Development Committee has met the most—16 times—said its chair, Purna Bahadur Khatri.

“Until the assembly session is called, the committees have been made the primary working bodies,” he said. “They are issuing directives to the government on matters of public concern and drafting various legislative proposals.”