KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML has stated that the number of party members has reached 600,000.

A proposed organizational report prepared by UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel stated the number of party members had more than doubled after the 9th General Convention.

The proposal has been prepared for tabling it at the Statute Convention of the party slated for October 1-3.

According to the report, the party membership of the UML was 256,772 till the 9th National General Convention held in 2014. But at present, the party memberships had reached around 600,000.

Reportedly, youth attraction towards the CPN-UML rose after Chairman KP Oli dissolved the House of Representatives for the first time on December 20 last year.

“After December 20, 2020, the attraction of youths towards the party has increased,” the report read. “The process of granting new memberships gained momentum in the party amidst political and organizational upheavals during the period.”

It is important to note that the UML’s Standing Committee meet on August 24 and its Central Committee two days later endorsed the 10-point unity agreement between the warring factions in the party. The agreement stated that memberships prior to May 16, 2018, would be considered for the general convention. But the recent organizational proposal prepared by General Secretary Pokhrel set to be tabled at the Statute Convention mentioned memberships rose significantly after December 20, 2020, however, the records of additional 3.5 million memberships were yet to be sorted out.

“Records of new memberships could not be updated due to delays and dilemma in relation to renewal of memberships, granting new memberships and inclusion of new leaders from other parties,” Pokhrel wrote.

The report also stated the expansion of the organization fell into quandary following the UML’s unification with the Maoist Center.

The document noted that the party lost 20 percent of central committee members and 10 percent people’s representatives following splits in the party. The development and fragmentation increased following the nullification of the erstwhile Nepal Communist Party formed through merger of UML and Maoists, it added.