Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sarbendra Khanal has announced quitting the CPN-UML.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Khanal said he is no longer associated with any political party. Khanal was not seen in the party’s formal programmes for long.

“I feel that you might be confused about my political status, so I want to clarify that I am not affiliated with any political party. I am working independently to address local and national issues. I will continue to contribute as much as possible for the welfare of the country and the society,” he said.

Khanal said he has no immediate plans to join or establish any party. “I chose to remain independent. I will not join any party for now, nor do I have plans to form one,” said Khanal.

Khanal entered politics less than three years ago after completing 30 years of service in the Nepal Police. On September 22, 2022, UML chair KP Sharma Oli welcomed him to the party amid a public function. In the 2022 parliamentary elections, Khanal contested from Kathmandu-6 but was defeated by Rastriya Swatantra Party’s Shishir Khanal. While Shishir secured 14,204 votes, the former police chief garnered only 8,911 votes.

Just six months after his defeat in Kathmandu-5, Khanal contested the by-election in April 2023 as a UML candidate from Tanahun-1. However, he again faced defeat, this time to Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate Swarnim Wagle, who secured 34,918 votes. Khanal finished third with 8,488 votes.