Fact Check: Viral Claim About CPN-UML MP Padma Aryal Targeting RSP Is Misleading
चैत १२, २०८२ १२:१
Kathmandu. In the past few days, a post has gone viral on various social media platforms claiming that CPN-UML MP Padma Aryal made remarks about the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). MP Aryal, who was elected on a proportional basis, is alleged to have claimed that she knew “how to put RSP MPs in their place in parliament.”
Based on this post, newly elected independent MP Mahabir Pun also commented on MP Aryal. However, the TechPana Fact-Check Desk has confirmed that this claim is misleading. Aryal has not said anywhere, “We know how to put the leaders of the RSP party in their place.”
She has stated that they will play the role of a strong opposition, respecting the majority gained by the Rastriya Swatantra Party. She mentioned that the government should be held accountable if it goes off track. It has been confirmed that this statement was distorted and misleadingly posted with malicious intent. Based on this misleading claim, former Education Minister and newly elected independent MP Mahabir Pun was found to have expressed sarcasm towards another MP and former Minister for Agriculture Padma Aryal.
Claim
On Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 9:15 PM, the Facebook page named ‘Hamro Nepal’ posted a graphic with a photo of UML leader Padma Aryal with the text, “We know how to control the leaders of the Rastriya Swatantra Party in the parliament.” The poster also has a watermark named ‘Hamro Nepal.’ The caption reads, “We know how to control the leaders of the Rastriya Swatantra Party in the parliament—Padma Aryal.” As of the time of preparing this content, the post has received over 2,400 reactions, 1,700 comments, and 52 shares. See the original post, archived post, and screenshot.
Investigation
The TechPana FactCheck Desk searched for the keyword “RSP leader in Parliament” on Facebook to find posts claiming that UML MP Aryal had asserted that she would control the RSP members in Parliament. During the process, another Facebook page, ‘Swatantra Media,’ posted the same caption at 9:11 PM on March 20, 2026. This page had added its watermark to the poster and wrote in the remaining text, “We know how to control the leaders of the RSP in the Parliament. - UML MP P.D. Aryal.” By the time we prepared this content, the post had received over 4,800 reactions, more than 2,300 comments, and 59 shares.See the original post, archived post, and screenshot.
Similarly, a poster with the same claim was also found uploaded on the Facebook page ‘nayapusta.com’ of the listed online media ‘Nayapusta.com’. See the original post, archived post, and screenshot.
Similarly, a Facebook page named ‘Sandesh TV Nepal’ was also found to have posted the poster in the same way. This page wrote, ‘We know how to control the leaders of the RSP in the parliament, Padma Aryal.’ See the original post, archived post, and screenshot.
On social media threads, a user with the username ‘rajsharma20255’ uploaded a poster posted by a Facebook page called ‘Swatantra Media’ and wrote, ‘The confidence of those who have been put on the wall by the public! 😁😁’ See the original post, archived post, and screenshot.
During the fact-checking process, we analyzed these viral posts. They lacked essential journalistic details, such as when the statement was made, in what context she said it, to whom it was addressed, and what else was said. This lack of context itself makes the claim misleading.
The desk subsequently searched for news published/broadcast about Padma Aryal after 5 March. While searching on Google Advanced Search, an online news article titled “UML will emerge as a strong opposition: Padma Aryal,” published on 19 March 2026, was found. Similarly, in Thaha Khabar, an article titled “We can see ourselves as exhausted, but we cannot see the nation as weak: Padma Aryal,” and on BBC, a news article titled “Questions raised about the role of the ‘shrinking’ opposition in the new parliament” were reviewed.
According to these news sources, Aryal said that although her party will support the government despite being weak in numbers in the parliament, it will act as a “strong opposition” if the government deviates from the right path. Nowhere is there any statement about “controlling RSP leaders.” with a single answer that calls for “to bring down the RSP MP/leaders.”
We also searched for her conversations with the media. In that process, a video posted by ‘Janata Media’ on March 20 titled “Who is the UML parliamentary party leader after Oli's defeat? What does Padma Aryal say?” was found. In that video, MP Aryal is seen talking about her party's parliamentary party leader. She is not heard speaking about the RSP.
Similarly, in the video of Aryal posted by the Facebook page ‘8848 News’ on March 19, her mentioning of the name of RSP cannot be heard either. Watch the video.
In the video posted by ‘Makalu Khabar’ on March 19, ‘The UML is ready to be finished, but we cannot see the nationalism weakening: Padma Aryal’, MP Aryal has stated that she will accept the election results. Similarly, she has also extended her best wishes to the government with nearly two-thirds majority in the party. In that, she said (translated):
“We have repeatedly said that we respect the votes expressed by the people. Has anyone asked us why we weren't given (the chance)? We have not said that. The result of this election reflects the will of the people. We always respect the will of our people. We respect the people's vote. Therefore, while respecting it and sincerely accepting the election results, we have also wished that the government formed by the Rastriya Swatantra Party with a two-thirds majority functions well. We said that sincerely. We are in favor of stability. Since yesterday, we have been raising the issue of political stability. Therefore, we have fully accepted the election results. We want to move forward by accepting them. We review our failures. Our point is that we review them and learn from them to move forward.
In the role of the opposition, you see the UML as strong. Why do you see it as strong? It is because we cannot see the flag of national pride lowered or weakened. We may be capable of being exhausted ourselves, but we cannot see the nation or national pride weakened. If there are any such signals anywhere, under no circumstances will we allow this government to lower national pride. Therefore, our vigilance there is strict, top-notch vigilance, number one.
Number two, today it's not that the people have nothing; something is happening. But if you ask what the people expect, it's employment in the country. The problem of unemployment must be solved. Employment must be created in the country. And the elderly and women must be respected, right? Production must increase. People should not be in a desperate situation. We must move towards becoming self-reliant. We cannot always be in a position of asking. Now, one government has started such work, and two or three months have already passed. Political instability is the major obstacle to development, prosperity, and people’s expectations.
Therefore, now in a way no one can touch, the new force has gained almost two-thirds. It is a new force; it has enthusiasm, determination, and vigilance. Therefore, we will also move forward in a way that keeps things on the right track, ensuring that we do not allow the opposition to issue warnings or manipulate the people's votes or undermine public trust. Hence, our role in parliament will be strong in favor of the people and the nation. We will support good work brought by the government, and we will issue warnings and take action against bad work that goes against public and national interest.” Watch the video.
In a separate video interview broadcast by ‘Samaya Nepal TV’, Aryal stated that UML would support the government in fulfilling public expectations but would oppose it if it acts against national or public interest. She said, “Whatever dreams are being shown to the people, move forward to fulfill them; the CPN (UML) is with you and will support you. We will stand wherever we need to stand. Don’t mislead and take the other path; show arrogance and pride to push matters against national interest and public interest in the name of the majority. At that time, the UML will not be with you. At that time, the UML will issue a warning. We will support the matters carried out in public and national interest, wherever they need to stand and whatever needs to be done.
No matter what means candidates used to attract votes in the election, the government does not operate on tricks. People look for results. People watch for results. It's not as easy to shout from outside as it seems. Therefore, I urge you to be serious and focused on your work. I will not make any comments without even starting today. I only give my best wishes. Today, many, many best wishes for doing well. Some said in 2007 that now UML is finished and the Maoists will take over the country. Soon after, in the next election, we came up with a position. Therefore, one should not conclude that a loss in an election means everything is over. The past does not show that either. Our major parties, the old parties of the past, have experienced success at times, failures at times, and been second and third at times. We have also been first at times, second at times, and third at times. Now, there is no reason to be disheartened. Education must be taken abundantly.”
On March 19, 2026, a 59-minute-long interview titled ‘Raswapa Government Challenged by UML, Investigation Should Start by KP Oli: Padma Aryal | Hot Seat ||’ was broadcast on ‘Image Channel HD.’ In that interview, MP Aryal did not at any point speak about overpowering RSP's MPs. In response to every question posed in the context of RSP, she consistently said that while she would support the government, she would actively oppose it if it did not move in the correct direction. This comment led to certain Facebook pages presenting statements that MP Aryal did not make as though they were her own. These various facts confirm that the claims circulating that ‘UML MP Aryal said in parliament that she will control RSP MPs’ are misleading.
Mahabir Pun Misled by Viral Post
Former Minister of Education, Science, and Technology and newly elected MP Mahabir Pun expressed his opinion based on a misleading post shared by the Facebook page ‘Swatantra Media.’ On Sunday, he posted a screenshot of the same post on Facebook, writing, “Sister Padma Aryal! It would be enough if you were not so arrogant and foolish, as your leaders have taught you. Everyone, young and old, clearly knows what the previous leaders were like and what they did. Along with youths around the world, today's Nepali youth are hundreds of times more knowledgeable and clever than you. In the cycle of time, today's Nepali youths are much more conscious than you and your leaders. While you talk about how to defeat new leaders, today's young leaders know very well how to defeat old-minded, talkative leaders like you. That is why the new generation defeated the old parties in this year's general elections. So-called old-minded leaders like you, who come into proportional quota jobs, should not become overly arrogant in that way; rather, it would be much better to collaborate wisely. Since 2046 BS, in the span of 35 years up to now, the Earth has completed many revolutions around the Sun. It is good to be aware of this, sister and your friends!”
Responding to this, MP Aryal said, “Honorable Mahabir Pun, I was also excited about the opportunity to collaborate with you regarding the improvement of the information technology sector and the control of misleading information, given your presence as a renowned and talented information technology expert in the new parliament. However, the post you made today has been disappointing. There may be healthy political and ideological differences between you and me, but it was not proper to make baseless comments on fabricated content posted with malicious intent on a Facebook page that behaves like the mouthpiece of any party while attributing it to the media. I am sensitive to the fact that nothing that generates hatred is appropriate at this time. It is concerning that content deliberately placed on a topic I have not spoken about is being promoted free of charge by a responsible person like you, creating conflict. Who knows when and against whom misinformation will become some kind of weapon? I still believe that everyone will focus on exposing misleading activities and that you will judge the truthfulness of the matter presented.”
Claim
CPN-UML MP and leader Padma Aryal said, “We know how to control the leaders of the Rastriya Swatantra Party in the Parliament.”
Claimants
‘Hamro Nepal’, ‘Swatantra Media’ and ‘Sandesh TV Nepal’, the Facebook page of an online site named ‘nayapusta.com’, and a thread user named ‘rajsharma20255’.
Facts
Investigations into Padma Aryal's recent statement, public videos, and interviews found no evidence that she made such a remark. Instead, she has acknowledged the election results, wished the new RSP government success, and stated that UML would act as a strong opposition.
Meanwhile, in response to the criticism made by MP Mahabir Pun on the same subject, Padma Aryal herself has clarified that the statement was not hers and that misleading information was deliberately spread by fabricating the matter.
Conclusion
The claim circulated on social media that UML leader Padma Aryal said she would “Control RSP leaders in Parliament” is misleading.
Feedback
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पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: चैत १२, २०८२ १२:१
