The last general elections for the lower house of parliament concluded in November 2022, and Prachanda formed the government with the help of CPN (UML). But he junked this communist alliance three months later and joined forces with the Nepali Congress, which, with 89 seats, had emerged as the largest party in the elections. CPN (UML), led by KP Sharma Oli, won 78 seats, while Prachanda-led CPN-Maoist Centre won 32 seats in a house of 275.

What's interesting about the contemporary politics in this country of diverse ethnicities, cultures, and at least one festival a day throughout the year is the mind space of the ordinary people that Prachanda occupies. With 32 seats, which is less than 15% of the total members, Prachanda is the Prime Minister and is likely to be so even after the current political crisis in which Nepali Congress is adamant about being given the Chairmanship of the National Assembly, the upper house.

The last time when Prachanda ditched CPN (UML) and took the Nepali Congress' support to form the government about a year ago, it was on the question of supporting a candidate for the post of President. Prachanda supported the Nepali Congress candidate Ram Chandra Poudel, while CPN (UML) wanted its candidate elected to the top post.

With seven states created with their respective assemblies, Nepal's politics is more colourful today. The political discourse has several talking points, with new leaders and administrative setups trying to tackle issues that would have been ignored in the past.

For example, in September 2023, two resident doctors were brutally attacked after a patient died during treatment at Manipal Teaching Hospital in Pokhara. In October 2023, another doctor was assaulted at Kathmandu Medical College in Kathmandu. These incidents led to a strike by doctors and medical and healthcare professionals across the country. Nepal has about 20 private and government medical colleges. They represent the institutional capability, which Nepal lacks across the board, of the country's healthcare sector.

Nepal's biggest source of foreign exchange is remittances it receives from Nepalis working abroad. With lower education and technical skillsets, these people primarily work in menial jobs, sometimes with extremely harsh working conditions, such as in the sweltering heat of the middle-east countries. The absence of key family members for considerable periods impacts the family and social life. That's where the blissful Nepal becomes a poignant story. The rise and relevance of Prachanda in the country's national politics has this as the backdrop.

Nepal, with its Himalayas, hemp, locally-made brew, dances and songs, is a perfect getaway for those seeking extra from life — hippies of our times. But it's becoming urban with roads widened and concrete houses coming up all over. The filth and plastic are converting this country into just another place in the world.

Communist parties find their relevance in taking up issues for the poor, marginalised, and the voiceless. But, in reality, they have not been able to tackle these issues in Nepal. In the bordering Indian state of West Bengal, where communist parties ruled for several decades, they have been able to lift people out of poverty on a massive scale and give them a level playing field to rise and prosper. If Nepal can do this, it must be several decades from now.

Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda is one of the rare political leaders who can give more than 24 hours to politics on any given day. He eats, breathes, and sleeps politics. He is much ahead in his preparations, and no political leader can ever give him competition.

So, while Prachanda continues to be the Prime Minister of Nepal for the next four years, it is not an overstatement; but Prachanda needs to focus on is how the country is viewed by its well-wishers. He must work closely with countries having capable, fair, and democratic institutions to replicate these models in his country.

For example, Nepal still needs a more effective set of laws for criminal and civil offences. The good from society needs to be institutionalised, and the feudal and anarchic mindsets need to be countered with institutional force. (IPA Service)