KATHMANDU, Nov 10: The repetition of old faces is likely in the race for the leadership of the CPN-UML after the 10th general convention of the party. It is almost certain that the party Chairman KP Sharma Oli will be re-elected while other office-bearers are likely to have the same old majority.
“Oli will be reelected as the chairman, the remaining posts will be filled with the same faces except Ram Bahadur Thapa,” said a member of the CPN-UML standing committee. According to him, the leaders who want to maintain their position are facing problems while implementing the new statute passed by the Statute Convention.
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Although the party’s general secretary Ishwar Pokharel had proposed to have a co-chairman in the standing committee meeting before the statute convention, the party decided to have a senior vice-chairman.
The situation is not that convenient for Pokharel as the current vice chairpersons Bhim Rawal, Asta Laxmi Shakya and Subash Nembang too have staked their claims to the post of senior vice chairperson. Even if the UML, which has been practicing unanimous leadership selection, has said that it will convene a general convention to ‘manage’ all leaders, the current statute is likely to keep some leaders in office.
As there is no legislative obstacle for party Chairman Oli, the possibility of a unanimous election has increased. However, UML Vice Chairman Bhim Rawal and Deputy General Secretary Ghanshyam Bhusal are likely to compete with Oli for the post if the office-bearers are not safe in maintaining their positions.
“All the old faces are likely to be repeated in the new general convention except Surendra Pandey who lost the general secretary post, Shankar Pokhrel who lost the deputy general secretary and Ram Bahadur Thapa and Top Bahadur Rayamajhi who left the CPN (Maoist Center) and joined the UML,” said a standing committee member. If no one is ready to give an alternative to Oli in the general convention, the old face will get priority even if there is a tug of war for the 14 office-bearers’ posts.
