UML on verge of split as senior leader Nepal prepares to form new party

KATHMANDU: Senior leader of the CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal is making preparations to form a new political party.

Leaders close to him said that Nepal along with UML senior leader Jhalanath Khanal have reached the final stage of forming a new party.

The disgruntled leaders have intensified the process of forming various parallel committees throughout the country.

Madhav Nepal had at a program in Pokhara Thursday announced to form a central committee under his leadership by removing KP Oli.

The Nepal-Khanal faction is currently engaged in creating nationwide parallel structures of the party.

The disgruntled faction has already formed parallel committees of All Nepal Women Association (ANWA), All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), and Youth Association Nepal (YAN), among others.

The UML has suspended senior leader Madhav Nepal, Vice-Chairman Bhim Rawal, Standing Committee Member Surendra Pandey, and Deputy General Secretary Ghanashyam Bhusal for six months.

They were suspended after their response to the clarification sought by the party was found unsatisfactory.

General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel had sought a clarification from Nepal, Rawal, Pandey and Bhusal in line with the decision of the central committee (CC) meeting convened on March 20.