A record 120 political parties have applied with the Election Commission to take part in the March elections. Among them is CPN-UML, the second largest party in the dissolved House of Representatives.

Almost all political parties, old and new, who registered at the Election Commission after the September Gen Z uprising, have committed to taking part in the elections and have been urging the government to create a conducive environment for the polls by maintaining law and order and guaranteeing security for campaigning and casting the ballot.

Among other things, the inmates who fled several prisons during the Gen Z protests and the weapons looted from security forces during the unrest are seen as a security threat for the election.

Over 14,000 inmates fled prisons in various parts of the country and a large number of weapons were looted.

Responding to queries at a parliamentary committee meeting last month, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal told National Assembly lawmakers that of the 14,554 prisoners and detainees who fled prisons and detention centres during the Gen Z movement, 9,697 had been brought back.

Aryal, who informed lawmakers about the recovery of 723 weapons, however declined to disclose the total number of weapons looted during the protests citing security reasons.

Leaders of various parties during a meeting convened by Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Friday expressed their concern about the possibility of misuse of absconding inmates and missing weapons during the election.

Prime Minister Karki had called a meeting of political parties, heads of the security agencies and office bearers of the Election Commission where almost all party leaders expressed concerns over the election-related security and stated that they are not fully confident about poll security.

The way political party leaders are threatened in the name of Gen Z on a daily basis is not right, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa said at the meeting. He drew the prime minister’s attention to the behaviour of the Gen Z groups who, according to him, argue with the government and threaten political parties and their leaders.

“Every day, different groups are being formed to quarrel with the government, and they are threatening political parties and their leaders,” Thapa said in the meeting.

“We recognise the government and its organs. But we do not recognise leaderless groups that challenge the parties and refuse to listen to the government. Their relentless threats cannot be tolerated.”

Thapa also said that the Nepali Congress deem the current government formation and the dissolution of the House of Representatives unconstitutional. However, he was quick to add that the Congress is not in favour of reinstating the House and is prepared to participate in the elections.

But the UML has yet to decide formally to take part in the March 5 polls and statements made by senior UML leaders have confused voters. They are still giving ambiguous signals.

Some UML leaders said that the party has already started preparations for the elections—no matter when they take place.

Speaking at an event at the party’s head office on Saturday, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli claimed that the party will return to power after the elections and warned not to mock the old parties including his.

He asserted that the UML would indeed return to power from the coming elections and that the party is waiting for peaceful elections.

“We know there will be no election on March 5,” said Oli. But whenever the election happens, the next government will be the UML’s, he added.

Oli further said, “I don’t know whether others will return to power, but the UML will definitely do so. The UML is like a flood in a big river. Although there is no situation for a House of Representatives election to be held on March 5, the UML is waiting for a peaceful and fair election that will be held on some future date.”

Oli asked people not to believe the narrative that the old parties are finished. Reiterating that the government will be formed under the leadership of the traditional parties after the polls, he clarified that the UML is not involved in changing alliances or trying to topple the government.

In the vein of party chair Oli, UML General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel, during the all-party meeting on Friday, ruled out the possibility of elections on March 5.

“We are not assured of a favourable electoral climate and are not confident that elections will take place,” Pokhrel said at the meeting in Baluwatar. “Why should we even debate an election that won’t take place?”

He had also raised security concerns and other political issues that could undermine the March 5 election, according to a leader present at the meeting.

Another UML leader, however, said the party has a two-pronged strategy regarding the March polls.

“We have already started election preparations but have also filed a petition at the Supreme Court demanding the restoration of the dissolved House of Representatives. It’s a kind of carrot and stick policy. We have to sensitise the government, security agencies, Gen Z groups and other stakeholders on election security,” said the UML central committee member. “Our preparations for the elections will be in full swing after the party’s general convention, which will give a new direction to the party.”

The UML is holding its general convention on December 13–15 to elect its leadership for a new term.

The UML leader clarified that the two-pronged strategy was adopted in order to keep the government, Gen Z groups and security agencies on their toes. “Our alertness and vigilance will definitely boost the morale of UML cadres,” the central leader said.

But Bishnu Rijal, a central committee member, argued that rather than the UML it is the Nepali Congress that does not want the elections. “The Congress is in a dilemma whether to hold its general convention on January 10–12,” said Rijal. “As the Congress is now divided over holding its convention before the parliamentary polls, the party might not want to go to the polls in such a situation.”

So the fate of the elections is largely dependent on the Congress and whether it will hold its convention ahead of the elections, said Rijal.

He claimed that his party is ready for elections any time. “All our party committees down to the grassroots are meeting regularly and are energised. Though we say elections are not possible in March, we are preparing quietly and we will spring a surprise for everyone,” added Rijal.