KATHMANDU: CPN-UML, which was earlier on the brink of collapse, has gradually returned to the rhythm of unity.

UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli in the Standing Committee (SC) meeting of the UML held on Tuesday took a big chunk of leaders including Bhim Rawal, who earlier had sided with Nepal-Khanal faction, into his camp.

Oli was able to do so after he agreed to return the party to the status of May 16, 2018 and decided to conduct the 10th  General Convention of the party on November 26-29 in the Kathmandu Valley. Meanwhile, 10 influential SC members have also been included in the UML.

UML Secretary and Spokesperson Pradip Gyawali said that those who lost their way and left the party to form another party have been urged to unite. “Those who have defected from the UML have to regret and think twice before returning to the mother party and the SC meeting has decided to call for their return,” said Gyawali.

Spokesperson Gyawali informed that the meeting of the UML SC has decided to restore all the structures of the party to the status quo.

However, senior leaders of the CPN-UML, including another senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal, have started the process of registering a new party called the CPN-Unified Socialist Party. Leaders of the Oli faction have claimed that the party has not split. However, leaders of the newly formed CPN-United Sociality have claimed that their party will challenge the UML.

Bottom-line of the party unity:

August 26: Central Committee meeting
September 1 to 5: District and People’s organization Assembly
September 10 to 11: Standing Committee meeting
September 12 to 13: Central Committee meeting
September 20 to 22: Statute Session
October 23: Ward convention
October 26: Municipality/rural municipality convention
November 26 to 29: 10th General Convention

The disgruntled leaders of the CPN-UML, who earlier sided with the Madhav Nepal camp, had participated in the SC meeting on Tuesday.