Mohan Bikram Singh sows seeds of communism in Thabang village of Rolpa district

Communist party of Nepal (Fourth Convention) formed by Mohan Bikram Singh and Nirmal Lama. The Maoists trace their roots to the CPN (Fourth Convention)

CPN (Masal) splits to become CPN (Mashal) under the leadership of Mohan Baidya

Pushpa Kamal Dahal or Prachanda takes over CPN (Mashal) after Baidya steps down

CPN (Fourth Convention) merges with CPN (Mashal) and other smaller communist parties to form CPN (Unity Centre)

United People’s Front formed as an overt political wing of Unity Centre. It fought the first democratic elections in 1991

CPN (Unity Centre) renamed as CPN (Maoists)

People’s Liberation Army formed by Maoists. When the war ended in 2006, UN verified the total number of Maoist combatants at 19,602

Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) formed after merger of CPN (Maoists) and CPN (Unity Centre-Masal)

UCPN (Maoists) splits. The splinter group named as CPN (Maoists)

Maoist ideologue Baburam Bhattarai quits Maoist party. Forms his own party – Naya Shakti (New Force

Several factions of Maoist parties join hands to form Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre) under the leadership of Prachanda

Armed wing of the Nepali Congress party begins rebellion against Rana rulers

End of Rana rule. Tribhuvan Shah becomes king after help from India

First democratic elections, Nepali Congress wins with big majority

King Mahendra Shah, Tribhuvan’s successor, sacks Bishweshwor Prasad Koirala as prime minister. Announces Panchayat system of governance

King Birendra lifts ban on political parties and promises democratic elections

Girija Prasad Koirala of NC becomes prime minister after the country's first democratic elections

Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) comes to power. Manmohan Adhikari becomes prime minister

Operation Romeo lunched in Rolpa and Rukum districts with 2,200 policemen. Over 6,000 people flee, many of them join the Maoist upon their returned

Maoists launch an armed rebellion

The war ends and The People's Movement (Jan Andolan) is launched after seven parties, including the Maoists, join hands against king Gyanendra

Nepal declared a secular republic marking the end of the Hindu kingdom

Maoist party emerges as the largest party in the first Constituent Assembly elections. Prachanda becomes prime minister

Prachanda resigns as Prime Minister after eight months in office