Early political activism

Nepal joined the communist movement in 1969 (2026 B.S.). During the underground struggle, he used party names such as 'Subodh', 'Sunil', 'Ranjan' and 'Bibek'. In 1971, he became a district committee member of the Nepal Revolutionary Organisation (Marxist-Leninist). At a conference held in Biratnagar June 7–8, 1975, Nepal was elected as a bureau member of the All Nepal Communist Revolutionary Coordination Committee (Marxist-Leninist). When the ANCRCC (ML) founded the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) in 1978, Nepal was elected a politburo member of the new party.

Multi-party democracy (1991–2006)

He was the Deputy Prime Minister in the CPN (UML) minority government in 1994-1995 as well as the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly during the 1990s. He argued for the Nepal Civil War to be solved through talks and did not believe that mobilization of the army was the solution and as the leader of CPN (UML), was one of the three key Nepali leaders, the other two being prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala and rebel Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', crucial in bringing the Maoists into the peace process and signing the 12 point peace accords that ended the decade long war.

Nepal was arrested in 2001 during a crackdown on anti-government protest. Following the palace massacre he called for Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to step down, though later joined forces with him to launch a campaign against King Gyanendra's assumption of executive powers.^{[citation needed]}

Transition period

On 12 April 2008, Nepal resigned as General Secretary of the CPN (UML),^[9] after having lost the Kathmandu 2 seat to Maoist candidate Jhakku Prasad Subedi in the 2008 Constituent Assembly election.^[10] Subedi was a comparatively obscure candidate.^[11] Nepal was also defeated in Rautahat-6 constituency by Maoist candidate Devendra Patel.^[12] He later won both Kathmandu 2 and Rautahat 1 seats in the Second Constituent Assembly election of 2013. Nepal later chose Rautahat 1.^[13] He won the Kathmandu 2 constituency again in the 2017 general election by a margin of 14,000 votes.^[14]

In June 2008, the CPN (UML) proposed that Nepal become the country's first President, following the declaration of a republic, though the idea did not materialise after disagreement with the ruling Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).^[15]

Prime Minister of Nepal

He became the 34th Prime Minister of Nepal on 25 May 2009 after his predecessor Prachanda resigned over a conflict with the president over the dismissal of the army's chief of staff.^[16]

Nepal himself resigned as prime minister on 30 June 2010 in an effort to help the government move past its deadlock and to pave the way for a national consensus government, as demanded by the opposition.^[17][18]

Split in Nepal Communist Party and CPN (UML)

Nepal returned to CPN (UML) after the Supreme court decision to dissolve the party merger between CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre). Since 18 August 2021, he has been serving as the chairman of the CPN (Unified-Socialist), a new party formed through split in CPN (UML) citing arrogance and monopoly of the party president KP Sharma Oli.^[4]

Major Political offices held

• 1990: Member, Constitution Drafting Commission
• 1991-1999: Member of the National Assembly
• 1991-1994: Leader of Opposition, National Assembly
• 1993-2008: General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML)
• 1994-1995: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs
• 1999-2002: Member of the House of Representatives from Rautahat-1
• 1999-2002: Leader of the Opposition, House of Representatives
• 2008-2013: Member of the Constituent Assembly from CPN (UML) party list
• 2009-2011: Prime Minister of Nepal
• 2013-2017: Member of the Legislative Parliament from Kathmandu-2
• 2017–2021: Member of the House of Representatives from Kathmandu-2

2022 legislative elections

Nepal contested in 2022 election from Rautahat. He faced Ajay Kumar Gupta of CPN(UML) who previously lost as mayor of Gaur Municipality in the 2022 Nepalese local elections.

2017 legislative elections

2013 Constituent Assembly election

2008 Constituent Assembly election

1999 legislative elections