BUTWAL, March 22: Surendra Pandey has expressed serious concern over the current state of CPN-UML, warning that unless the leadership changes course, the party could face a sharp decline in seats in the next elections.
Speaking at a program organized by Chintan Abhiyan Nepal in Butwal on Saturday, Pandey reviewed the results of the last three elections and said not only UML but all traditional political parties are steadily losing ground.
He warned that if working methods are not changed, older parties could collectively head toward political irrelevance. Recalling the 2017 elections, he noted that the UML-Maoist alliance had secured 174 seats but failed to sustain that success. Using a sarcastic tone, he said the party’s strength has shrunk over time, from filling several buses in the past to fitting into a single bus by 2022, and now barely a microbus. If the trend continues, he said, the party may soon fit onto a scooter.
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Pandey stressed the need for tough decisions to address internal weaknesses. He warned that without self-criticism from the leadership, the situation will worsen, even to the point where finding candidates willing to contest elections could become difficult. “Why would anyone run in an election they are sure to lose?” he asked.
He said past mistakes have weakened the party and called for a shift in direction. He also pointed out the failure to include term limits in the constitution, restricting party chiefs or prime ministers to two terms, as a major shortcoming.
Meanwhile, Pandey has proposed three measures to revive and strengthen the party. In a social media post on Saturday, he said the party must evolve into a forward-looking institution equipped with expertise and technology to address complex national problems, instead of relying on past achievements.
His first proposal focuses on expertise-driven politics, urging the party to go beyond speeches and work with subject experts and economists to develop a technical roadmap to address the country’s economic challenges.
The second proposal calls for ending the practice of assigning responsibilities based on personal connections and introducing a digital merit-based system. He emphasized the need for transparent evaluation using modern technology to fairly assess the capability and contribution of each member.
As a third proposal, Pandey suggested a structured model of generational transition, promoting co-leadership and mentorship systems to bring new leaders forward while utilizing the experience of senior figures.
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