Kulman Ghising, minister for energy, water resources, and irrigation, is preparing to launch a new political party. Though he had explored uniting various other alternative forces, he reportedly chose to proceed on his own, doubting a consensus with other groups was achievable.

Sources close to Ghising said he decided to register a separate party after the talks with the Rastriya Swatantra Party couldn’t make any headway. “The to-be-formed party will likely use the light bulb as its election symbol under the name Ujyaalo Nepal Party,” one associate said. They hope the symbol helps branding the new organisation. The registration was submitted to the Election Commission in September.

Sources said Ghising has yet to decide whether he will lead the party or join as a member. They added that he will consult higher authorities before deciding whether to resign from his ministerial post before filing his candidacy. For now, he intends to remain minister while forming the party.

Ghising, also former chief of the Nepal Electricity Authority, recently met with members from the Bibeksheel Sajha Party and the Nepal Gen Z Front, led by Raksya Bam, but they could not agree on a party name or election symbol. The groups feared that a party centred on one individual could face future challenges. “We proposed a unified party under GEN Z leadership in view of the changed situation after the Gen Z movement, but Ghising refused,” a Gen Z Front leader said.

Former Bibeksheel Sajha Party president Milan Pandey said talks with all sides were ongoing, but no decision had been reached. “Who leads the party is secondary; the priority is recognising those experienced and deserving within the Gen Z movement,” he said, adding that all alternative forces should unite.

Within the Gen Z Front led by Raksya Bam, leaders are considering transforming the Front into a political party. Some support formalising the front and integrating leaders from the Bibeksheel background, with preparations underway for provincial and district-level leadership.

Yujan Raj Bhandari, organisation chief of the Front, said the aim is to institutionalise the movement from the September 8 protests before pursuing politics. “Some will move into politics, others may stay in civil society. Talks with other groups are ongoing,” he said.

Following separate moves by Bibeksheel and Gen Z leaders, Ghising also held talks with the Nagarik Unmukti Party and CK Raut’s Janamat Party, with activists such as Sagar Dhakal participating in the discussions.

Former education minister Sumana Shrestha, who left the Rastriya Swatantra Party a few months ago, said a party reflecting Gen Z principles is essential. She warned that if Gen Z fails to win parliamentary representation, established parties could criminalise the movement.

“The state has caused immense suffering, several youths have been killed, therefore the Gen Z movement must have its own leadership,” she said. Shrestha was initially engaged with the Gatisheel Loktantrik Party but did not join when it was registered. She later met Ghising, supporting a Gen Z-aligned party and proposing a shift towards collective leadership rather than a single leader.

Ghising, who had been planning a party before the Gen Z movement, received proposals to join the Rastriya Swatantra Party. He reportedly said he could lead if Rabi Lamichhane took a patron role.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party had also formed a high-level dialogue committee under the leadership of vice-chairperson Swarnim Wagle. Although Lamichhane had indicated he could be flexible, sources close to him claim that his leaders were not ready for it.

Sources close to Ghising say he then decided to form a separate party. According to them, he postponed the plans to form a new party after proposals came from the Rastriya Swatantra Party. “Otherwise, he was ready to announce the party earlier. Even now he decided to move ahead to avoid delays,” the source said.