Kathmandu, December 21: In a significant escalation of Nepal’s ongoing political crisis, the two largest parties from the dissolved House of Representatives – Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML – have gathered signatures from 146 former lawmakers to bolster their legal challenge against the September dissolution of parliament and the formation of the interim government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki.

Sources within the parties confirmed that NC has secured signatures from 68 of its former MPs, while CPN-UML has obtained 78, totaling a clear majority in the 275-member House (where 138 signatures suffice for a simple majority). The lists are expected to be submitted to the Supreme Court as early as this week to support separate writ petitions already filed demanding the reinstatement of parliament.

A senior NC leader told reporters that top party figures, including President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Vice-President, and both General Secretaries, have deliberately not signed the document. “This is about demonstrating parliamentary majority, not individual endorsements,” the leader said. “We’ve already filed our writ; the signatures will follow soon to strengthen the case.”

In contrast, UML’s effort is fully backed by its parliamentary party and central committee, with signatures collected from all its former MPs, reflecting the party’s unified push to declare the dissolution unconstitutional.

The petitions argue that parliament should be restored to its status as of early September 2025, before former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s resignation amid massive Gen Z-led anti-corruption protests. They further demand that President Ramchandra Paudel appoint NC leader Deuba as prime minister, citing his position as leader of the largest party at the time, and invalidate Karki’s appointment as unconstitutional.

UML filed its writ on November 25, followed by NC on December 8. Preliminary hearings have been held, with the Supreme Court ordering written responses from the government within 15 days.

The crisis traces back to September 2025, when widespread youth protests forced Oli’s resignation. Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first female head of government, was appointed interim prime minister on September 12. Her government immediately recommended dissolving parliament, paving the way for fresh elections scheduled for March 5, 2026.

Critics from NC and UML contend that these actions violated constitutional processes, insisting an alternative government could have been formed without dissolution.

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear over a dozen related petitions, political analysts say a ruling in favor of reinstatement could derail the planned elections and thrust Deuba into power, while upholding the dissolution would solidify the interim setup’s path to polls.

With tensions lingering from September’s deadly unrest, all eyes are on the judiciary to resolve Nepal’s latest constitutional impasse.