UML Facing Identity Crisis
Yuba Nath Lamsal The CPN-UML, which is currently leading the non-Maoist coalition government, appears to be in a deep political and ideological dilemma that has created a big identity crisis in the party. Once a vibrant party that had been viewed as an alternate force in the country now seems to be on the decline mainly due to the absence of its ideological and political standing. Polarisation Its politics is now polarised between rightist and the leftist ideologies. The Nepali Congress represents the rightist and capitalist ideology which is often called liberal democracy. The Maoists represent the mainstream of the communist force in Nepal. Until the Maoists were waging a jungle war condemning liberal democracy, the CPN-UML was a moderate and parliamentary communist force. Such a moderate communist force was necessary in the country given the large chunk of the population that had faith in leftist politics. This has been evident by the results of all the elections held after the 1990