Pokhara, 6 June — The newly formed political party CPN (Unified Socialist), which split from the CPN-UML under the leadership of former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, has suffered two major blows within a span of just four days. Both incidents occurred while the CPN-UML, led by KP Sharma Oli, remains at the helm of the government, raising the political stakes for the fledgling party.
On Thursday, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a corruption case against Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal. The charges are related to a high-profile land acquisition scandal involving the Patanjali Yogpeeth and Ayurved Company Nepal. The CIAA has accused Nepal of facilitating irregularities in the purchase and sale of land during his tenure as Prime Minister, establishing a financial damage amounting to NPR 185.85 million. The case includes 93 individuals, with Nepal listed among the principal defendants.
Earlier, on Monday, another prominent leader of the Unified Socialist, Dirgha Sodari, who previously served as Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province, was also charged with corruption. The Special Court registered a case alleging unexplained accumulation of wealth during his time in office. According to the CIAA, Sodari amassed properties worth NPR 19.39 million, out of which only NPR 8.55 million could be verified through legitimate income sources. As a result, a charge sheet has been filed citing an unjustified property amounting to NPR 10.83 million.
The twin corruption cases have dealt a significant reputational setback to the Unified Socialist, which has been striving to establish itself as a clean and progressive alternative to mainstream political forces. With its top leaders now entangled in legal proceedings, the party faces internal uncertainty and public scrutiny just as it attempts to consolidate its political base ahead of future elections.
