Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal on Thursday sought to clear the air saying he has no immediate plans to form a political party and does not intend to contest a parliamentary seat in the March 5 elections.

He made the remarks while speaking at the Federalism Enablement and National Concern Committee of the National Assembly in response to a lawmaker’s query.

The question of whether ministers of the interim government will contest the March 5 elections has remained a matter of public interest.

With the formation of the Ujyalo Nepal Party (UNP), officially under the leadership of former energy secretary Anup Kumar Upadhyay and politically backed by Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Kulman Ghising, a debate has started over the neutrality of the citizen government formed after the Gen Z uprising.

While Ghising is not listed in the party’s formal structure, critics argue that his involvement from behind-the-scenes raises moral questions. His supporters, however, maintain that it is too early to question his political role.

On Wednesday, the UNP, which was recently registered at the Election Commission, announced updates to its leadership with a 51-member central committee led by Upadhyay.

Some notable members of the party include actress and television presenter Reema Bishwakarma, professor Mahendra Lawoti, and Tara Prasad Joshi, an independently elected member of the Sudurpaschim provincial assembly. Likewise, other members are Shri Gurung, Shankar Dhakal, Dr Raju Thapa, Dr Bishal Bhandari, and Sita Pandey.

Although Ghising is not formally listed in any position of the UNP, the public largely perceives the party as his.

During an interaction with journalists on October 31, Prime Minister Sushila Karki had said her Cabinet members would not contest the election. She reportedly asked Ghising if was interested, but he is said to have remained silent.

According to party chief Upadhyay, Ghising will resign from his ministerial post before the election code of conduct for the March 5 polls comes into effect and will actively participate in the election.

At present, Ghising heads three ministers—the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation; the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport; and the Ministry of Urban Development.

His involvement in forming a political party has triggered debate because the public perceives the current government as neutral, composed mostly of technocrats and led by a former chief justice.

Upadhyay argued that it is difficult to find anyone completely devoid of political beliefs. Clarifying that Ghising will not join the party immediately, he asserted that Ghising’s involvement should not be seen as compromising the neutrality of the citizen government.

Critics, however, say it is a conflict of interest and morally unethical for a minister of a citizen government to form a political party.

Geja Sharma Wagle, a political analyst, says, “The Gen Z movement where at least 76 people sacrificed their lives, was not to put someone affiliated to a political party in the government. It is not moral for a person still in the government to form a political party with a plan to contest the upcoming election.”

Meanwhile, Gen Z Digital Dastak, one of the factions of the Gen Z alliance, calls for pragmatism over emotion in this debate.

Ashutosh Yadav, a representative of Digital Dastak, said that unless Ghising’s name appears officially as the leader of the UNP, he should not be considered the party leader.

“It is true that the Gen Z movement and the subsequent government did not want any political party in the government,” Yadav said. “But, unless Ghising’s name is on paper, it would be unwise to comment on him.”

However, claims by UNP members that Ghising will join the party before the election indicates that he is closely involved with the party.

At the time of forming the interim government, it was generally understood that none of its members would contest in the upcoming elections. However, a source close to Ghising claims that he was an exception.

An official at the Prime Minister’s Office stated that Ghising was included in the Council of Ministers in view of his expertise in the energy sector, despite his reluctance. The official said Ghising had already considered contesting the upcoming elections before joining the government and agreed to join the interim administration at the personal request of Prime Minister Karki.

The official said Ghising consulted the prime minister to discuss party registration before the UNP was registered. “It was the prime minister herself who suggested he not resign immediately,” the source claimed.

The Karki government, mandated to hold elections within six months, has already spent over two months in office.

If Ghising resigns only after the election code of conduct comes into effect, it may create more challenges to the interim government at a critical time.

Prime Minister Karki, who pledged to keep the Cabinet small, has 10 ministers including herself, leaving little room for expansion.

Umesh Mainali, a former home secretary, says that if a member of the election government plans to contest election, it would be better to relinquish the Cabinet position before the election code of conduct comes into force.

“The citizen government was formed to hold the elections, and it was not expected that its members would also contest, and it would not be moral to step down just ahead of the vote,” Mainali said.

Prime Minister Karki’s chief advisor Ajaya Bhadra Khanal said that there is no legal provision barring members of an election government from contesting polls, but linking a representative of a citizen government to a political party may raise moral questions.

“The prime minister herself inquired about Minister Ghising’s political role in the party, but she has not made any decision on the way forward,” Khanal told the Post.

Upadhyay argues that the resignation of a single minister will not affect the election process.

“The primary responsibilities for the election lie with the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Election Commission. Since the administrative mechanisms supporting these bodies will remain active, the departure of one minister will make no difference,” Upadhyay said.