KATHMANDU, Oct 13: Leaders within the CPN-UML who once stood firmly behind Chair KP Sharma Oli have now begun persistently urging him to step down. During the party’s Secretariat meetings held on Friday and Sunday, a majority of office bearers called on Oli to take responsibility for the political situation that emerged after the Gen Z movement and to relinquish his position on moral grounds. Urging him to remain as a guardian figure, they pressed him to hand over the leadership to a new generation.
This marks the first time in nearly a decade that Oli’s leadership has faced serious questioning from within his own faction. The pressure intensified after senior leaders Bishnu Paudel and Prithvi Subba Gurung also suggested that Oli pave the way for new leadership, reportedly leaving him uneasy.
In response to growing calls for his resignation, Oli proposed holding the party’s general convention in the second week of December, with the exact date to be finalized by the upcoming Central Committee meeting. “The general convention will be held in the second week of December, and its date and venue will be finalized by the Central Committee meeting,” said Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali after the meeting.
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Alongside the convention, the UML also decided to take the initiative for the reinstatement of parliament and to unite against what it described as the country’s current political regression. Gyawali said these agendas will be tabled for discussion at the Central Committee meeting scheduled for October 15–17.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Gyawali accused the government of being unconstitutional and claimed that there is no environment conducive to holding elections. “The government is not moving toward elections. There’s no preparation at all. Those who looted police posts have not been punished, escaped prisoners are still at large, and police posts have not been reestablished. How can elections take place under such conditions?” he asked.
Despite mounting criticism from within the party, Oli has shown little willingness to reflect on the current situation. Party leaders argued that while his ideological position remains strong, his autocratic and intolerant leadership style, his habit of holding grudges, and his reluctance to accept constructive criticism have weakened both his image and the party.
The demand for Oli’s resignation was raised strongly during the meeting, with many arguing that the UML cannot be revitalized unless he steps down to make way for new leadership. However, amid this growing internal pressure, Oli reportedly warned that he would not spare critics within the party.
“One thing is clear—Sunday’s Secretariat meeting decided to go for the convention under Oli’s leadership, which is not a positive sign,” said one office bearer after the meeting. According to him, the decision for an early convention came as leadership restructuring debates intensified. The UML’s 10th General Convention was held in November 2021, and although the party’s statute allows the next one to be held by November 2026, Oli proposed an earlier convention in December to diffuse rising opposition.
Following the Gen Z movement, Vice Chair Surendra Pandey and leaders Yubaraj Gyawali, Yogesh Bhattarai, and Gokarna Bista had been urging Oli to act as a guardian and facilitate a smooth leadership transition. They reiterated this call during Sunday’s Secretariat meeting, emphasizing the need for generational change within the party.
Delivering a lengthy statement at the meeting, Oli defended himself, arguing that leadership transition and generational change would occur gradually. He stressed the need to strengthen party unity and safeguard the legacies he has built over the years — signaling that he is not ready to step down just yet.
