Sher Bahadur Deuba just touched down at Tribhuvan International Airport, and Kathmandu's political ground is already shaking. After spending nearly six months abroad receiving medical treatment following the brutal assault he and his wife faced during the Gen Z protests last September, the eighty-year-old veteran leader is back.
If you think his return is just a routine homecoming for an aging politician, you're missing the entire plot. Deuba walks back into a nation deeply scarred by the youth-led uprisings of late 2025, an ongoing legal battle over the soul of the Nepali Congress, and lingering anti-corruption investigations.
Let's unpack what his arrival actually means for Nepal's volatile political climate.
The Long Exile And Medical Mystery
Deuba left Nepal in late February 2026, heading first to Singapore and later spending time in Hong Kong. Officially, the trip was entirely about recovery. On September 9, 2025, during the height of anti-government demonstrations that toppled K.P. Sharma Oli's administration, angry crowds stormed Deuba's residence. Both Deuba and his wife, former Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, sustained severe head injuries during the physical assault.
Yet, his extended absence raised eyebrows across the country. Investigative reports and financial watchdogs questioned how an extended multi-month stay across Singapore and Hong Kong was funded, especially given that local asset freezes and anti-money laundering investigations had already been set in motion. Central bank records reportedly showed no formal foreign currency exchange approvals for the medical trip through standard regulatory channels.
Despite these controversies, supporters swarmed the airport tarmac with cultural bands and musical pageants. They didn't view him as a disgraced figure. They greeted him as a resilient survivor of Nepal's old guard.
A Party Divided At The Top
Deuba's return coincides precisely with a high-stakes national gathering of the non-establishment faction of the Nepali Congress. He is slated to headline the three-day assembly as chief guest.
Right now, the Nepali Congress is locked in an intense internal civil war. While a younger generation represented by figures like Gagan Thapa has tried to steer the party toward a modern identity, the old guard refuses to fade away quietly. The Supreme Court recently reopened legal arguments regarding the legitimacy of the current leadership committee.
Deuba's camp is using his return to inject momentum into their challenge. He isn't just a former five-time prime minister; he's an institutional network builder who commands deep loyalty among rural party cadres. By positioning himself as a unifying elder rather than a power-hungry executive, he is trying to outmaneuver his internal critics.
Facing The Heat Of A New Legal Reality
You can't talk about Deuba's return without addressing the legal cloud hanging over him. Prime Minister Balendra Shah's administration has aggressively targeted high-ranking political figures under sweeping anti-corruption and anti-money laundering crackdowns. Warrants were previously issued against Deuba and his wife, though courts later quashed parts of those actions.
Deuba has flatly dismissed the charges as politically motivated revenge. Police presence at the airport was heavy, not to block him, but to manage the massive crowds and provide state security granted to former premiers. Whether the judiciary will pursue these financial probes aggressively or let them stall out will test the strength of Nepal's post-uprising legal system.
What Happens Next
The next few days will determine whether Deuba can successfully reclaim influence or if he has walked straight into a political trap. If the Supreme Court tilts toward the anti-establishment faction, Deuba's political relevance within his own party could diminish rapidly.
Watch the party convention closely. If the rank-and-file rally behind his message of reconciliation, the old guard has just bought itself a new lease on life.
