After the no-confidence motion against Sher Bahadur Deuba failed for the second time, the distance between the UML and the Congress was increasing. The no-confidence motion led by the UML on the condition of making Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Lokendra Bahadur Chand the Prime Minister was failed in the parliament on 2053 Pus 9.

The UML-RPP were very angry that the Deuba government could not be toppled. Even though the UML could not pass the parliament, it had declared that it would topple the Deuba government from the streets through agitation. The no-confidence motion had sparked a huge conflict within the RPP. The RPP, which had signed the no-confidence motion against its own government while in power under the leadership of Deuba, was on the verge of a split.

Amidst the increasing internal and inter-party conflicts, UML leaders made strong comments on the future of the Congress at the by-election candidate announcement meeting held in Baneshwor, Kathmandu on 2053 Pus 12. In the meeting, UML President Manmohan Adhikari had said in an aggressive manner, ‘We learned Krishna’s diplomacy from the Mahabharata, we used the RPP as a weapon to lick the dust of the Congress.’ He had revealed that the RPP was used as a weapon against the Congress when he brought the no-confidence motion.

Without the support of the RPP, which won 20 seats in parliament, neither the Congress nor the UML could form a government. Therefore, it was revealed in the election meeting that the UML had promised to make the RPP the Prime Minister in revenge for the Congress toppling its nine-month-old government on Bhadra 26, 2052. In the meeting, Adhikari had said that the government’s votes had decreased from 107 to 84 due to the no-confidence motion. In the UML’s understanding, the government had not allowed the number to reach the number by kidnapping MPs. That is why the leaders were angry with the Congress. Even the mild-mannered Adhikari gave a very angry speech in the meeting.

Adhikari had claimed that his government would be formed by the winter session and urged people to wait till then. He had said in the assembly, ‘After the government is formed under our leadership, we will know who will be our friends and who will be given what position.’ He satirized the Supreme Court and said that the precedent set to clip Adhikari’s wings will now clip the wings of the Congress. Adhikari had raised the issue while pointing out that the recommendation for mid-term elections he had made during the nine-month-old government was not implemented.

The Supreme Court’s decision on Bhadra 12, 2052 had mentioned that the government should be formed from within the parliament as much as possible. Adding to that issue, Adhikari argued that the court would prevent Deuba from holding mid-term elections. Manmohan had termed the decision made by the then Chief Justice Bishwanath Upadhyay as clipping his wings. Adhikari’s argument was that if Deuba announced mid-term elections, the previous decision would set a precedent. Based on that, Adhikari claimed that Deuba would form his government by heating the streets if he tried to hold mid-term elections.

Congress has a history, no future

Speaking at the UML candidate announcement program in the context of the by-elections, UML MP Bidya Devi Bhandari said that whatever the history of the Congress, it has no future. She had said, ‘The responsibility of the country has fallen on the shoulders of UML. RPP has neither a history nor a future.’

At the by-election meeting to be held in Kathmandu constituency number 1, she said that the elements that were in power before 2046 were trying to seize power again, which had created disappointment and frustration towards democracy. She had expressed this view by pointing to the RPP, the party of the former Panchas. After Vidya, who won from that constituency, resigned, the UML had nominated Narayan Dhakal as its candidate.

The then general secretary of UML had won the 2048 parliamentary election from that constituency. Madan Bhandari had defeated the interim government's Prime Minister and Congress President Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. Madan died in a Dasdhunga accident in 2050. Vidya won the by-election. Manmohan had won Kathmandu 3 and 1 in the 2051 mid-term elections. After he resigned from 1, Dhakal became the candidate in the by-election. The constituency where Bhandari won and Bhattarai lost was very popular at that time.

At that meeting, UML MP and central member Rajendra Shrestha had refuted Adhikari's statement and said that he was ready to 'face' the mid-term elections. He had demanded the resignation of Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka, saying that he had abducted ministers and MPs to maintain power. He had said, ‘Congressmen are now taking dozers to ward by ward, dozers are also reaching Gothatar.’ Candidate Dhakal had accused the Congress of transforming Nepali politics into Bihari style. He had said that the minority government was ruling over the majority.

After the failure of the no-confidence motion against Deuba, the news prepared by Kantipur Daily focused on the views of leaders including UML Chairman Adhikari towards the Congress and the use of the RPP to gain power. The news was published by Kantipur Daily on 13 Poush 2053 under the title ‘Adhikari used the RPP as a weapon to lick the dust of the Congress.’ On the same day, Kantipur also published a photo of the locals gathered at the election meeting and UML candidate Dhakal giving a speech. The photo was taken by journalist Kedar Ojha.