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Participation in Election and Government

The Party enthusiastically took part in the General Election of 1991. Despite the use of all forms of unfair means and violence by the rightist forces including the Nepali Congress, the Party succeeded in winning 69 seats out of the 205 seats in the House of Representatives and 16 seats out of the 60 seats in the National Assembly. The Party secured 29.98 percent of the popular votes against 39.75 percent votes received by the Nepali Congress, which, subsequently, formed the government with simple majority. The Party played its role as a major opposition party in the Parliament effectively by firmly standing for democracy, national independence, integrity and social justice. In the mid-term election in November 1994 CPN (UML) won 88 seats securing 30.72 percent popular votes and became the largest party in the Parliament. The claim of winning two - third majority by the Nepali Congress proved groundless. The then Prime Minister of the Nepali Congress had dissolved the elected Parliament prematurely calling for winning the two -third majority in the Parliament when the Congress Party engulfed by internal crisis caused due to the rise of vested interests, indiscipline, groupism, misuse of power and indifference to the people's aspirations and problems.

The Party's Government after the Mid-Term Election

The CPN (UML) formed minority government in December 1994 as the largest Party in the Parliament after the Elections. Comrade Man Mohan Adhikari - Chairman of the Party and its parliamentary leader, became the first Communist Prime Minister and 15 member Cabinet was formed. The government was successfully run for nine months implementing many new policies and programs following the Party's election pledges and people's aspirations. The government gave the priority to improving the life of people launching the program of Build Your Village Yourself and welfare schemes. Policy orientation of controlling of inflation and corruption, smooth supply of necessary consumer goods, old age allowance to elderly citizens, resettlement schemes for the landless people, protection of human rights and ensured public security and economic and industrial policy suitable to the country, foreign policy based on the UN Principle and non-alignment and good neighbourly relations both with China and India on the basis of equality, mutual respect and benefit were well responded by the people. The popularity of the Party irked the rightist political forces in the country and they orchestrated designs to overthrow the CPN (UML) Government contrary to the people's mandate and against to their own commitments made right after the Election. Consequently the CPN (UML) was ousted from the government in August 1995 and a rightist coalition government, led by the Nepali Congress, was formed.

Coalition Government

The rightist coalition government failed in March 1997 and a new coalition government formed by three National Parties including the CPN (UML). Though the Prime Minister's post went in the hands of the National Democratic Party (RPP), the CPN (UML) substantially shared the ministries including the office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The coalition government was formed on the basis of 20 point programs. The aim of the CPN (UML) in joining the coalition government was to protect the people and the country from the suppressive and undemocratic parties of the rightist coalition and to contribute for the progressive and democratic development of the country.

Local Elections

The coalition government of the CPN (UML) and the RPP successfully conducted the elections for the local bodies, i.e. the Village Development Committees, Municipalities and District Development Committees. The CPN (UML) won the 51.02 percent Village Development Committees, 56 percent Municipalities and over 80 percent District Development Committees. The Party won total 93899 seats out of total 188010 seats of local bodies throughout the country. This is a remarkable victory won by the Party. Previously the Nepali Congress had won 50614 seats in the local elections held in 1992, which represents 50.14 percent of the total seats. With these election results, the CPN (UML) has become the largest party both in the parliament and local bodies of the government.