KATHMANDU, Dec 15: Sharp differences emerged during the closed-door session of the CPN-UML’s 11th General Convention over how to interpret the Gen-Z movement. On the first day of the session, which began on Sunday at Bhrikutimandap, party Chair KP Sharma Oli described the Gen-Z revolt as a “foreign conspiracy” and sought to firmly establish that narrative. In contrast, Senior Vice-Chair Ishwar Pokhrel argued that the party could not evade responsibility by shifting the blame to external forces.
While chairing the closed-door session, Oli said the Gen-Z movement had been hijacked midway and that democracy had been endangered through a foreign conspiracy. He claimed foreign powers had undermined the constitution and the democratic system, unleashing destruction.
During the session, Senior Vice-Chair Pokhrel presented a separate concept paper openly criticising Chair Oli, which Oli countered. Referring to the Gen-Z movement, Pokhrel questioned why the party leadership failed despite being in government at the time, asking how such a failure could have occurred if the government had indeed performed well.
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Responding to Pokhrel, Oli said that when he was being relentlessly attacked and vilified from all sides, it was wrong for close comrades within the party to ask him to step aside instead of standing by him. Claiming a third term as party chair, Oli said those attempting to oust him were also prepared to sideline Pokhrel, adding that the same comrades seeking to remove him were equally ready to discard Pokhrel.
Asserting that the party would grow stronger under his leadership, Oli said he had never bowed the head of the party, the country, or the people. “At a time when opponents are attacking me relentlessly—when KP Oli as an individual is being abused and cursed—shouldn’t my close comrades show more affection? Can they simply say they will throw me out like a load in a basket?” Oli said in the closed-door hall.
Oli made these remarks while journalists were briefly allowed into the session hall. During his address, he also apologised if he had made any mistakes. “If there have been any mistakes on my part, I say sorry,” he said.
Although Oli proposed selecting the party leadership unanimously under his stewardship, Pokhrel rejected the proposal. Oli also made it clear that the UML would not accept what he described as a narrative created by opponents regarding the Gen-Z movement and vandalism.
Pokhrel, however, said the 11th General Convention should send a strong message of unity and urged Oli to seek consensus. He stressed the need to rethink the party’s mode of functioning. “If we blame everything on an external conspiracy, does that mean our responsibility ends there?” he asked.
Recalling past general conventions, Pokhrel said that although there was a need for self-review on several issues during the 10th General Convention, no serious introspection took place. He added that the concept paper he presented had been prepared in consultation with the party chair and had also been circulated among general convention representatives. He said there was no problem with the party’s policy or system, but with its practice, arguing that the current leadership therefore needed to change.
Pokhrel warned against deflecting internal weaknesses by invoking foreign conspiracies, noting that there had never been a proper review of how the movement unfolded. Questioning the foreign conspiracy narrative, he asked how, when, and to whom such claims were being explained. “The idea that our responsibility ends by blaming everything on an external conspiracy is wrong. There was never a serious discussion on why the party split after the Fifth General Convention,” Pokhrel said. “We controlled the state machinery, yet if we failed, the shortcomings were also ours and must be seriously addressed.”
Referring to the Fifth General Convention, Pokhrel emphasised the need to accept differing opinions, perspectives, and views. “At the Fifth General Convention, the proposal of People’s Multiparty Democracy (Janatako Bahudaliya Janabad) was put forward, along with a guarantee to protect dissenting views,” he told the representatives. In the closed-door session hall, Pokhrel also said arbitrary practices had prevailed within the party, causing damage, and urged Oli to act as a responsible guardian of the party.
