Note to listeners: This episode is part of the 'Fireside Legacy' archive series, recorded at Baluwatar on March 18, 2024 (Chaitra 5, 2080), when Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' served as Prime Minister.

In March 2024, after completing one year in office, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' made a dramatic political shift by ending his alliance with the Nepali Congress and forming a new governing coalition with CPN-UML and the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). In this candid Fireside interview with Rupesh Shrestha, Prachanda unpacks the internal frictions that led to the decision, including electoral vote-transfer failures, the Koshi Province leadership crisis, and ideological divergences at the NC Mahasamiti meeting over secularism and the peace process.

Addressing critics who label him "unstable" and "opportunistic," Prachanda provides a philosophical defence of his dynamic leadership style, famously declaring, "As long as I live, there will be upheaval in this country". He argues that taking calculated risks and adjusting course is essential to safeguard republicanism, federalism, and social justice.

Key Highlights:

• The Anatomy of a Coalition Shift: Why the 2023–2024 alliance with Nepali Congress broke down over Koshi Province politics, vote transfers, and NC Mahasamiti debates.
• The "Upheaval" Philosophy: Prachanda’s response to accusations of political instability and his belief in continuous dynamic political evolution.

Marking one year since the historic Gen Z Movement of Bhadra 2082 and amid the recent Rasuwa Bhote

Koshi flash floods, former Home Minister and Senior Advocate Om Prakash Aryal joins Fireside with

Rupesh Shrestha.

Aryal reflects on his extraordinary 365-day cycle, from an anti-corruption campaigner on the streets to

Home Minister facilitating a historic election, then back to his legal practice in the courtroom.

In this deep-dive interview, Aryal discusses the implementation of the Karki Commission Report, the

organised violence and "bullet biker" infiltration of Bhadra 24, the legalities surrounding the detention of

former PM KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and former Chief Justice Sushila

Karki’s "motherly" guardianship during the political transition.

Most significantly, Aryal issues a stern warning to Prime Minister Balen Shah and the current

administration regarding "Digital Fascism": ruling through online fear, character assassination, and social

media intimidation creates a dangerous environment where those in power ultimately become fascism's

final victims.

Key Highlights:

The 365-Day Transformation: Navigating the roles of a street campaigner, interim Home Minister

facilitating elections, and practicing advocate.

The Karki Commission & Bhadra 24 Vandalism: Unpacking the investigation into organised

infiltration, state vacuum, and the mystery of the "bullet bikers."

Rule of Law & Due Process: Legal scrutiny over the detention of former PM KP Sharma Oli and former

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak without formal charges.

Leadership in Crisis: Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki’s role as an interim "motherly" guardian

preserving constitutional continuity.

Disaster Response & Human Dignity: Evaluating state coordination in the Rasuwa flash flood aftermath

and why governance must centre on equal citizenship.

The Danger of "Digital Fascism": Why using social media algorithms, intimidation, and character

assassination as tools of statecraft inevitably consumes the rulers

Guest: Manish Jha, Member of Parliament, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Recording/Broadcast Period: August 2026 (Shrawan 2083)

Episode Description:

In the aftermath of the Falgun 2082 general elections, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) finds itself in an unprecedented position of power, commanding a near two-thirds majority. However, despite this massive mandate, the government faces significant "turbulence" in service delivery and economic stability.

In this revealing episode of Fireside, RSP’s own MP Manish Jha steps into the role of the "internal opposition". Known for his data-driven and logical arguments, Jha deconstructs why the government he represents is struggling to meet public expectations. From the famous "Black Sunglasses" metaphor, challenging the Prime Minister to step out of his VIP bubble and see the ground reality, to the controversial role of non-state actors within the Prime Minister's secretariat, Jha offers a candid post-mortem of the administration's first few months.

Jha also addresses internal party dynamics, revealing for the first time why he voluntarily declined a ministerial post and how a lack of consultative discussion is leaving top leadership "lonely at the peak".

Key Highlights:

The "Turbulence" Realisation: Why Jha believes that if the "plane" of government is still shaking after four months, it’s time to check the engine or the route.

Deconstructing Institutional Decay: A critique of "childish" government tactics, such as using vehicles to block media houses, and the constitutional risks of non-state actors.

The Consultation Gap: A deep dive into why the RSP leadership must move from individual heroism to institutional strength to avoid the mistakes of past administrations.

Madhesh: Smouldering Logs: Jha’s analysis of the recent social tensions in Madhesh, warning the state that while the "visible fire" might be out, the "logs are still smouldering".

Guest: Pradip Poudel, General Secretary, Nepali Congress

Recording Date: August 6, 2026 (Shrawan 22, 2083)

Is the Nepali Congress truly united, or was the "Special General Convention" actually the seed of a party split?. Following a significant defeat in the Falgun 2082 (February/March 2026) general elections, the main opposition party is currently embroiled in internal conflict and dissatisfaction. While a new generation of leadership has emerged, older leaders accuse them of trying to "toss the party off a cliff in a basket.

In this episode of Fireside, General Secretary Pradip Poudel discusses the "legitimate rebellion" within the party, the controversy surrounding President Gagan Thapa’s resignation, and his efforts to bring the party back on the "right track". We explore the growing distance between the descendants of BP Koirala and the new generation, the accusations of a "two-man show," and the potential for a new ideological direction known as "Gagan-ism".

Key Highlights:

The Special General Convention: Was this move a new, legitimate democratic practice or a planned attempt to split the party?.

Defeat and Accountability: Why was Gagan Thapa’s resignation not accepted after the election loss?.

Generational Power Struggle: Are senior leaders being disrespected? Poudel addresses tensions between the party headquarters in Sanepa and the disgruntled faction's separate gatherings.

Ideological Shift: Is the party moving away from "Democratic Socialism" toward "Social Democracy" or a new "ism"?.

In this episode of Fireside, we revisit a landmark 2022 conversation with Rekha Thapa. Even in the post-2082 election landscape, her critique of "leadership syndicates" remains strikingly relevant. Thapa discusses her transition from silver-screen stardom to active politics with the RPP, challenging the traditional view of women as secondary players in governance.

Key Highlights:

Beyond Quotas: Why women must be decisive "heroes" (Nayaks) instead of being confined to reservation "boxes".

Social Activism: Her mission against child marriage and the fight for social justice.

The Rebellion: A direct challenge to entrenched power structures within political parties.

Despite new faces in parliament, Thapa’s "rebellious consciousness" serves as a vital mirror for today's leadership.

Available now on HamroPatro, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. Subscribe to Fireside with Rupesh Shrestha for more deep-dive interviews.

In this episode of the Fireside Podcast, host Rupesh Shrestha sits down with Sohan Sah, researcher and former Vice-Chairman of the Madhesh Province Planning Commission, to analyse the recent religious and social tensions in the Tarai region. Sah provides a deep dive into why local "law and order" issues are escalating into national crises, pointing to a "cocktail" of state failure in conflict management, misaligned political communication, and a perceived lack of constitutional commitment from the government.

Sah introduces the concept of "Techno-Fascism," explaining how social media hate is being socially accepted, politically legitimised, and economically rewarded through "views" and "clicks," which fuels conspiracies before facts can emerge. The conversation also explores how the government's message of harmony is getting "Lost in Translation" on the ground and why the direct intervention of high-level officials may actually be weakening local administrative machinery.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Sunsari Incident: Why a local dispute over music transformed into a communal flashpoint.
• Deconstructing Techno-Fascism: The role of social media algorithms in rewarding hate speech and spreading conspiracies.
• Governance & Miscommunication: Analysing the "Lost in Translation" gap between government intent and public perception in Madhesh.
• The Constitutional Question: Questions surrounding the government's commitment to federalism and its impact on regional stability.
• Recommendations for Stability: Why prioritising the rule of law over "communal" framing is essential for the future of Nepali society.

Can Nepal’s largest and oldest academic institution, Tribhuvan University (TU), truly break free from the shackles of political sharing and administrative chaos? Newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Bhola Thapa, who brings 32 years of academic experience from Kathmandu University, joins the Fireside Podcast to share his vision. Recorded on July 13, 2026, just four days into his tenure, Dr Thapa outlines a reform plan to transform the university’s face.

In this episode, Dr Thapa discusses his clear mandate to remove political student organisations, his determination to reclaim encroached government lands—including the TU Stadium and Laboratory School—and his digital vision to replace the frustrating "Pwal Sewa" (hole-in-the-wall service) with modern IT and AI systems. With 120,000 students leaving Nepal annually, find out how he plans to stop the brain drain by making TU a global brand.

Key Topics:

Meritocracy: Breaking the tradition of political appointments through a scientific selection process.

A Politics-Free Campus: Declaring the "end of justification" for student and employee unions.

Property Reclamation: The plan to return billions in captured land to university ownership.

Digital Transformation: Using AI to end administrative hurdles and "window services".

Stopping the Student Exodus: Rebranding TU to provide quality, employment-oriented education at home.

RSS Feed Description: Why did the startup that pioneered ride-sharing in Nepal fail to survive the industry it helped create? Sixit Bhatta, founder of Tootle, joins host Rupesh Shrestha for an honest look at the "track" he opened in 2073 BS and the reasons behind its eventual demise. Bhatta admits that while he succeeded as an innovator, he ultimately lost the "battle of capital" required to scale in a hyper-competitive market.

Looking forward, Bhatta outlines a bold vision for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nepal. He argues that the global economy is shifting toward "data, compute, and energy," and that Nepal’s surplus hydropower is the secret weapon for building a sovereign AI infrastructure. From drug discovery to urban planning, Bhatta explains how the right policy moves today could help Nepal achieve a century of progress in just ten years.

Key Topics:

• The Death of Tootle: Lessons on why first-movers often fail when they cannot bridge the gap between innovation and massive capital investment.
• Nepal’s Comparative Advantage: Using clean energy to power global data centers and move the country from an exporter of raw materials to a partner in global innovation.
• The "Access to Intelligence" Divide: Addressing the $20-a-month gap in AI tools and why Nepal must create its own digital infrastructure to remain competitive.
• Research-First Era: Why the next decade of entrepreneurship will be led by scientists and researchers rather than just "dorm room coders".

In this powerful episode of Fireside with Rupesh Shrestha, we sit down with the legendary Lhakpa Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to successfully summit Mount Everest ten times. While the world knows her as the record-breaking "Mountain Queen" featured in a major Netflix documentary, Lhakpa reveals the gritty reality behind the glory: the immense struggle of raising her daughters as a single mother while working low-wage jobs like dishwashing and housekeeping in America.

Lhakpa takes us back to her roots in the remote village of Balakharka, Sankhuwasabha, where she learned to climb trees and cliffs using what she calls the "Monkey System"—climbing by hand without ropes or modern gear. She offers a blunt critique of the current state of Everest, comparing modern commercial mountaineering to "herding sheep" and warning of a looming crisis as experienced Sherpa guides migrate abroad or leave the profession. From summiting while two months pregnant to "breaking the law" of traditional society to open doors for female climbers, this conversation is a masterclass in resilience, motherhood, and the true cost of a record-breaking life.

Key Topics:

• The "Monkey System": How a girl who never attended school used her natural environment as a classroom, learning the technical skills of climbing long before reaching Everest.
• From Everest to Whole Foods: The jarring contrast between being a world-renowned climber and surviving as a "low-wage worker" in the United States to secure her children's future.
• The Value of Education: Why she tells the next generation to become doctors or pilots first, and only climb for adventure once they are financially stable.
• Breaking Social Norms: How Lhakpa defied the mockery of those who said a woman shouldn't be among men on the mountains, ultimately paving the way for a new generation of Nepali women.

In this episode of Fireside with Rupesh Shrestha, recorded on June 29, 2026, we are joined by renowned author and journalist Sudheer Sharma. Using the World Cup as a metaphor, Sharma analyzes the current power dynamic between Prime Minister Balen Shah and RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane. He explores whether the RSP is simply "passing the ball" for Balen to score goals, or if the Prime Minister’s focus on "operational management" while ignoring the tactical base of Parliament is opening a dangerous political "Pandora’s Box".

The conversation provides a candid "post-mortem" of the RSP's first national convention in Chitwan by praising its political institutionalization while critiquing its managerial failures and the seeds of internal groupism. Sharma dives into the ideological shift from "Constitutional Socialism" to "Social Democracy," the inevitability of a split within the Nepali Congress. This episode offers a deep look into the unstable undercurrents threatening Nepal’s fragile political stability.

Key Topics:

● Striker vs. Midfielder: Analyzing the self-centered power dynamics of Balen Shah and Rabi Lamichhane and the risks of the PM ignoring the very House that provides his mandate.

● The RSP Post-Mortem: A review of the Chitwan convention, identifying where the "new force" failed to set smart management standards and how it is now claiming the liberal centrist space.

● Pandora’s Box & Constitutional Risk: Why "over-correcting" the constitution through a directly elected executive could trigger uncontrollable instability and lead the country toward authoritarianism.

● The Opposition Crisis: Why Sharma believes a split in the Nepali Congress is now "inevitable" and why the traditional Communist movement is facing a historical downfall in voter base.