KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML has announced the official launch of its election campaign on Sunday, Jan 18, ahead of the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5.

The party is set to intensify its election-focused activities with a major show of strength in the federal capital, Kathmandu.

According to Bagmati Province Committee Chair Kailash Dhungel, a special rally will begin from Bhrikutimandap and culminate in a mass assembly at Pragya Bhawan in Kamaladi.

The gathering will be addressed by party chair KP Sharma Oli, who is expected to formally declare the party’s election campaign and issue strategic directives to party cadres.

Bagmati Province Deputy Secretary Bhaktakumari Lama claimed that the party has devised a winning strategy for all 18 constituencies under the provincial committee. “We are determined to secure victories in all 18 constituencies outside the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley. The Pragya Bhawan assembly will serve as an official declaration of this commitment,” she said.

The upcoming election is being held before the completion of a five-year term following the dissolution of parliament in the aftermath of the ‘Gen Z’ movement in September.

Speaking at a program in Kathmandu on Thursday, UML Chair Oli asserted that the party had narrowly escaped a split and is now fully united. He said the party’s general convention had resolved internal confusion and provided a clear political direction.

Oli also claimed that attempts were made to create instability within the UML, similar to what he alleged had happened in the Nepali Congress, but those efforts failed.

Recalling his tenure as prime minister, Oli said leadership demands relentless dedication. “Back then, I barely had time to sleep. That is how a government should function—with full commitment,” he remarked.

Oli further accused the current government of failing to uphold the rule of law and institutional order. Referring to the withdrawal of charges against RSP President Rabi Lamichhane, he said the Attorney General’s Office had committed a “historically disgraceful act.” He warned that granting amnesty and withdrawing cases even in fraud-related matters would seriously weaken good governance.

Meanwhile, UML Secretary Mahesh Basnet and General Secretary Shankar Pokharel criticized the government for failing to create a conducive environment for free and fair elections. Speaking at a press conference at the party’s central office, Basnet said weapons looted and prisoners who escaped during the ‘Gen Z’ movement have yet to be recovered, posing a serious security threat.

“We are not afraid of elections,” Basnet said. “But how can a fair and credible election be held when the morale of security forces is low and major security issues remain unresolved?”