KATMANDU, Oct 26: The CPN-UML Central Committee has already decided to hold its 11th General Convention in Pokhara on December 13, 14, and 15. With only a month and a half remaining, the party’s leaders and cadres have not been able to build strong enthusiasm for the event. A Secretariat meeting will be held soon after Tihar to finalize the criteria and process for selecting delegates.
The party faces multiple challenges. There is uncertainty over whether the existing leadership will continue or a new one will emerge. The party, often accused of weak internal democracy, paved the way for current Chairman KP Sharma Oli to seek another term during the Statute Convention held from September 5 to 7. The country’s political landscape since then has made leadership change a challenge not only for the UML but also for other major parties.
Although Oli appears determined to retain his position, there is growing expectation within and outside the party for leadership change, a topic raised in the recent Central Committee meeting. Many members said the General Convention should decide the matter.
UML Publicity Department Chief Rajendra Gautam said the Secretariat meeting will soon determine the criteria and process for delegate selection. “The Organization Department will present a proposal, and the Secretariat will finalize it,” he said. According to him, delegates will be chosen nationwide on the same day before the convention begins. The UML has about 650,000 members and plans to set the delegate selection process based on membership numbers. Although the party claims a 28 percent increase in membership compared to the previous convention, the central office has yet to verify the figure. Three main challenges stand out for UML.
Move to restrict Oli’s movement
The government is preparing to restrict former Prime Minister and UML Chair Oli’s movement outside Kathmandu. Following the formation of an interim government led by Sushila Karki, a recommendation was made to freeze his passport. The government has not formally notified him, but is preparing to impose travel restrictions. Such a move could directly affect the party’s upcoming convention.
UML to hold district convention on January 7
Oli has already rejected the government-formed inquiry commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki and said he will not appear before it. The UML Central Committee also declared that the current government was formed against the spirit of the constitution and that the commission it formed cannot be impartial.
The high-level inquiry commission investigating the incidents of September 8–9 recommended freezing the passports of five individuals, including Oli, former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, former Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi, former National Investigation Department chief Hutaraj Thapa, and former Kathmandu CDO Chhabi Rijal. Duwadi alone has been granted travel freedom. UML believes that restricting Oli’s movement could lead to confrontation and political instability, adding another challenge for the convention.
Fire at party headquarters
The UML Central Office was destroyed during the Gen Z protests, with key documents burned. Forty-five days later, the office has resumed limited operations. After protesters set fire to the Chyasal office, the party operated from tents, but several preparations for the convention have been hampered.
During the protests, criminal groups vandalized and burned offices of major political parties and homes of top leaders. Even after one and a half months, UML operations are still affected, as the temporary setup cannot fully replace lost infrastructure.
Bhandari’s membership renewal dispute
During the party’s 10th Central Committee meeting, several members urged renewal of former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s membership. Many members have asked Oli to act as a unifying figure and renew Bhandari’s membership. Senior Vice-Chairman Ishwar Pokharel warned he would register a dissenting opinion if it was not renewed.
“I have already expressed my disagreement with the decision not to renew her membership. If it is not corrected, my dissent will stand,” Pokharel said during the meeting. Oli agreed to speak with Bhandari personally, temporarily defusing the dispute. However, many central members support Pokharel’s position, forcing Oli to delay the issue.
The controversy remains unresolved. Oli is reportedly torn over whether to allow Bhandari to participate in the convention. Critics say stopping her renewal confirms the allegations of undemocratic behavior against him. Some leaders argue that denying her membership could hurt UML’s election prospects, while others fear that if reinstated, she might contest against Oli for the chairmanship, making the issue more complex.
Unified Socialist headed for split
The CPN (Unified Socialist) is on the verge of division. Three years after its formation, Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal has initiated talks with the Maoist Centre for a merger. Senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal has rejected the idea, saying most members are preparing to reorganize the party under their own leadership.
Leader Beduram Bhusal, head of the party’s negotiation team, confirmed that both sides have exchanged documents and reached a broad theoretical understanding. “Discussions are ongoing, and document exchanges are happening,” he said. The unified party may be announced before the deadline for party registration on November 25, as the Election Commission has set March 5 as the date for elections.
The faction led by General Secretary Ghanashyam Bhusal is holding serious internal discussions, accusing Madhav Nepal of betraying the movement. Beduram Bhusal said the unified party will follow Marxism and Leninism as guiding principles, adopt democratic centralism as an organizational principle, and aim for scientific socialism. The likely name of the new party is CPN Socialist, as that name is already registered at the Election Commission.
Though the party symbol “pen” has been informally agreed upon, it has not been officially announced. Leaders believe the pen is easier for voters to relate to than the traditional hammer-and-sickle. After the national conference, the merger will be declared, with no multiple leadership posts until a unity convention is held. The timeline for the unity convention remains undecided, and until then, a coordinator will lead the unified party.
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