Kathmandu: CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has claimed that the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) began attacking UML only after it became clear that UML would not join the government following RSP's collaboration with the Nepali Congress.

Speaking at a gathering of central departments held at the party’s central office in Chyasal on Sunday in the context of UML’s statutory general convention, Pokharel took direct aim at the RSP’s political strategy and alleged intentions.

Populism Born from Social Media Despair
Pokharel criticized the RSP and similar new political actors for "cultivating despair" among the public via social media, saying their rise was based more on emotional manipulation than genuine alternative politics.

“Those who tried to emerge as alternatives to the mainstream parties promoted despair online, claimed legitimacy based on that frustration, and used it as fuel to spread populism in Nepal's politics,” he stated.

He implied that the RSP’s appeal was built on populist narratives rather than on proven governance or ideological consistency.

UML’s Support for RSP in Government
The UML General Secretary said that his party had earlier supported the RSP in joining the government to "test" the capabilities of the new party and even helped them secure influential ministries, including:

-Ministry of Home Affairs

-Ministry of Education

-Ministry of Labor

-Minister of State for Health

Pokharel said this was done with the intent to "demonstrate governance through action" and give populists a platform to deliver rather than just criticize.

Shift in RSP's Allegiances and Narrative
According to Pokharel, the center of trust for RSP leaders was initially the residence of UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, where meetings frequently took place. But this changed once the UML decided not to participate in a government where RSP was aligned with the Nepali Congress.

“After it was concluded that UML would not be in government alongside RSP and the Congress, the attacks on UML from RSP started,” Pokharel asserted.

Comment on Ravi Lamichhane’s Legal Troubles
Addressing the controversy surrounding RSP Chairman Ravi Lamichhane, Pokharel remarked that his jail sentence resulted from normal judicial processes, and not political vendetta.

“Ravi Lamichhane went to jail because the lower court's decision was not satisfactory and he went to the higher court. It was not our doing,” he said, rejecting any insinuation of UML involvement in Lamichhane's legal issues.

Political Undercurrents Ahead of New Alignments
Pokharel’s remarks highlight growing tensions between the traditional political parties and new entrants like RSP, especially as governance alignments and opposition dynamics begin to reshape after recent political realignments.

His comments also underscore UML’s attempt to reclaim the narrative in the face of rising anti-establishment sentiment that newer parties are capitalizing on.