KATHMANDU, Nov 21: The CPN-UML has set criteria for selecting delegates for its 11th General Convention, keeping the option of holding elections open. The party’s Central Organization Department (COD) has decided that delegates may be chosen through election if consensus cannot be reached. According to the COD’s decision made two days ago, delegates should preferably be selected through consensus, but if that fails, an election may be held. Central representatives have been deployed for this purpose.
The COD issued an intra-party directive on November 29 for selecting convention delegates. The directive states that preparatory work must be completed in advance by the committee in charge and its office-bearers, and that delegate selection must conclude by November 29. Delegates should be selected preferably through consensus, and if not, through healthy competition.
Delegates must be selected based on verified party membership numbers up to mid-April 2026. The directive states that the number of members eligible to participate from the geography, Dalit, and worker electoral clusters must be finalized by November 23. Members of central people’s organizations, central departments, and provincial committees must inform their respective district committees in writing by November 22 regarding the constituencies in which they will participate, after which district committees will notify the COD.
The minimum qualifications required to become a delegate are listed in Article 63(1) of the party statute. For the under-40 reservation category, members must have held party membership for at least seven years and must not have reached the age of 40 by November 29.
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The COD has instructed that information regarding delegate selection be communicated to all party members through reliable means by November 26. Committee leadership will be held accountable if any member does not receive the information on time. The selected delegates’ details, along with their photographs, must be sent to the COD by December 1.
According to the COD, centrally deployed representatives will coordinate and facilitate the delegate selection process within their assigned areas, ensure implementation of departmental directives, and help conduct the process in a clean and comradely manner. They will also clarify any confusion, take initiative to resolve issues, and ensure timely submission of delegate details to their respective departments.
Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal has been assigned responsibility for electoral constituencies under the People’s Organizations and Contact Coordination Committee. Sherdhan Rai has been deployed as the central representative for Bhojpur, Tehrathum, Dhankuta, Panchthar, Ilam, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Sunsari, Morang, and Jhapa.
Similarly, Bishal Bhattarai has been assigned to Khotang, Udayapur, Solukhumbu, and Okhaldhunga; Suman Raj Pyakurel to Siraha, Saptari, Mahottari, Dhanusha, and Sarlahi; Jwala Sah to Rautahat, Bara, and Parsa; Anand Pokhrel to Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Chitwan; Ganesh Pahadi to Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Sindhupalchok, Kavrepalanchok, and Makwanpur; and Sujita Shakya to districts under Special Bagmati Province.
Likewise, Samjhana Devkota has been assigned to Gorkha, Lamjung, Tanahun, Manang, and Nawalpur; Gobinda Nepali to Baglung, Mustang, Parbat, Kaski, Syangja, and Myagdi; Lila Giri to Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Nawalparasi (West), and Gulmi; Jeewan Gautam to Banke, Bardiya, Pyuthan, Rukum, and Rolpa; Laxmi Pokharel to all districts of Karnali Province; Lal Bahadur Thapa to Darchula, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Doti, Bajhang, Bajura, and Achham; Lila Bhandari to Kailali and Kanchanpur; Madhav Dhungel to the Central Advisory Council and Central Departments; and Kashinath Adhikari to the International Committee and the Nepal diaspora in India.
According to COD Chief Kashinath Adhikari, the centrally deployed representatives will facilitate implementation of the party’s mission. “Central leaders will help facilitate the delegate selection process,” he said.
Although the COD has issued the directive, membership verification in some districts of Madhesh Province and Bagmati Province has not yet been completed. Verification is pending in Dhanusha, Mahottari, Siraha, and several others. According to statistics presented at the statute convention, UML had 49,666 organized members in Dhanusha, but verification is pending as membership numbers are reportedly being increased.
Sindhupalchok has 9,378 organized members, but membership registration from two rural municipalities is yet to be verified, according to COD sources. Mahottari has 33,000 organized members, with numbers reportedly increasing. Siraha had 14,000 organized members, but this figure has also reportedly increased.
According to Adhikari, membership verification remains incomplete in a few districts. “Some records have not been fully verified. Verification is based on the statute convention, and minor discrepancies may occur if some records do not match,” he said.
The UML’s 11th General Convention is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu from December 13 to 15.
