KATHMANDU, Jan 20: Following the 10th convention of the CPN-UML, the party has strictly prohibited the formation of panels and internal competition for leadership within the party.
Despite earlier directives from party leadership to refrain from forming panels in provincial conventions, some provinces displayed disobedience by holding elections by forming panels under the pretext of 'internal democracy.'
To prevent a recurrence of this disobedience in district conventions, the UML central office has issued stringent instructions against forming panels.
In this context, the UML’s central office has given strict instructions to the party rank and file not to contest by forming a panel in the district convention. “Panels will not be entertained. The office-bearers/members will have to submit their candidatures personally and spread the campaign in a personal manner,” it is stated in the internal circular issued by the party’s General Secretary Shankar Pokharel.
UML convention bans formation of panels in elections
Similarly, the party has issued instructions to conduct the closed session regularly and select the leadership unanimously as much as possible.
UML has also issued a circular to represent one-third of the youth in the committee formed by the district convention. The District Committee has been instructed to creatively implement the center's decision.
The circular states, "To be eligible for the position of office bearer of the District Committee, the candidate must have been a party member for at least 5 years and have served in the capacity of a District Committee member or in a similar role for one term. Additionally, to run as a candidate for District Committee membership, one must have been a party member for at least 3 years or have served as a Municipal Committee member or Ward Officer for one term."
Similarly, it has been stated in the circular that the previous instructions of the Central Committee have been implemented for the posts of members of the House of Representatives, members of the National Assembly, members of the Provincial Assembly, municipal chiefs, deputy chiefs, district committee chairmen and secretary posts.
District committees of UML have started preparations to hold the conventions from Magh (mid-January to mid-Feburary) to Jestha (mid-May to mid-June). In Darchula, the district convention was completed on January 3. After that, all the districts have published the schedule of the convention and started preparations.
According to the instructions of the center, those contesting for office bearers’ position and members of the district committee will have to submit their candidatures and campaign personally. According to the provision in the statute, the district committee can nominate representatives up to 5 percent of the number of elected representatives.
