KATHMANDU, Nov 7: CPN-UML Senior Vice Chair Ishwar Pokhrel has indicated that he will challenge KP Sharma Oli for the party chairmanship at the 11th General Convention. Pokhrel, who had already said during the 10th Convention that he “deserved” to contest for the top position, has now signaled that he will run for chair with support from the Bidya Devi Bhandari faction.
Pokhrel decided to enter the race after the UML refused to renew former President Bhandari’s party membership, despite her intention to return to active politics. Bhandari has also urged Pokhrel to prepare his candidacy. “With the support of former President Bhandari, Senior Vice Chair Ishwar Pokhrel will stake his claim for the party chair,” a UML leader said, adding that a team would be formed under his leadership to guide the party toward a collective leadership model.
The General Convention is scheduled for December 13–15 in Kathmandu, where discussions will be held to determine the party’s future leadership. Oli recently said in an interview that he would proceed based on decisions made by the Secretariat meeting.
According to a central committee member close to Bhandari, Pokhrel told her that he was preparing to contest for chair and would consult colleagues before finalizing his decision. Oli paved the way for a third term by amending party statutes during the statute convention held in September.
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General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel and other leaders are backing Oli for a third term. However, no senior leaders have publicly aligned with Ishwar Pokhrel so far. While Vice Chairs Astalaxmi Shakya, Yuvaraj Gyawali, and Surendra Pandey are seen as likely to support him, they have not commented. Pokhrel maintains that he is a natural claimant for the chair.
Oli’s camp, led by General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel, is preparing intensively for the General Convention. The Bhandari camp is also working to form a team under Ishwar Pokhrel’s leadership. To avoid competition, Oli has kept Bhandari’s membership renewal on hold and has tried to keep Pokhrel “in check.” The post of senior vice chair was removed from the statute at Oli’s request.
During the central committee meeting held in October, some members said that Oli’s leadership was facing public rejection and that the party needed to reconsider its leadership strategy. “There is a view that the public is no longer willing to accept Oli as party leader. It was assured that the General Convention would settle the matter,” a central committee member said.
In the 10th General Convention held in November 2021, Oli was elected chair, while Pokhrel—who belonged to Oli’s faction—was elected senior vice chair. Despite his strong organizing ability, Pokhrel has struggled to build a solid faction of his own. Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai has repeatedly called for leadership restructuring, saying, “Chair KP Oli should now become a guardian figure and hand over leadership to a new generation.”
Bhattarai argues that the political developments of September 8 and 9 demand leadership transition and generational change. Pokhrel also believes Oli should step down. During a Secretariat meeting held in Gundu, Bhaktapur, in October, most office bearers — including Pokhrel — suggested that Oli resign, but he refused. Instead, Oli brought the General Convention forward by 13 months, saying the issue would be settled at the convention.
On November 1, six office bearers raised the issue of restoring Bhandari’s suspended membership at the Secretariat meeting, but Oli deflected, saying he would speak to her personally. As her membership remains unreinstated, Pokhrel is moving ahead with his candidacy, backed by her faction.
Historically, Pokhrel has aligned with whichever faction held influence. As a standing committee member during Madhav Kumar Nepal’s tenure as general secretary, he was close to the Coordination Centre and to the late Madan Bhandari. Known as an advocate of “People’s Multiparty Democracy,” his past alignments have unsettled Oli, who now sees him as a threat.
During the 8th General Convention in Butwal, when Oli and Nepal were aligned, Pokhrel contested for general secretary from the Jhalanath Khanal camp, and Khanal was elected chair. In the 9th Convention, Pokhrel sided with Oli against Nepal and Khanal, helping Oli secure the chair. At the 10th Convention, he worked to ensure Oli’s unanimous endorsement.
