KATHMANDU: The eighth meeting of the Central Committee of the CPN-UML is scheduled to take place in Kathmandu on January 5 and 6, 2025.
The previous meeting was held at the party headquarters in Chyasal, Lalitpur, from February 18 to 22, 2024.
This will be the first Central Committee meeting in 10 months. According to the UML statute, such meetings are supposed to occur every six months.
Since the 10th General Convention in Chitwan, the UML has held seven Central Committee meetings.
The first meeting of the National General Convention Representative Council, convened on April 20, 2024, brought together more than 2,000 delegates, but it was not related to the Central Committee meeting.
The UML currently has 357 central members, and a circular has been issued requesting their attendance at the upcoming meeting.
Why was the meeting delayed for 10 months?
Party leaders argue that the delay in holding the meeting was due to a lack of preparation.
The meeting, which was initially supposed to take place in June end, has been postponed for months, with the party citing its involvement in government affairs and the need to complete preparations for the meeting.
Rajendra Gautam, the Chief of the UML Publicity Department, explained that the Central Committee meeting could not be held within the six-month timeframe because the leaders were busy.
The UML has suspended two central members, Binda Pandey and Usha Kiran Timsina, for six months for raising concerns on Facebook about the land they received from Min Bahadur Gurung.
“The central committee was delayed as we focused on making the government effective and continued with secretariat meetings,” Gautam told Khabarhub.
“A report has to be prepared to present to the committee, but there was not enough time. The chairman also needed to focus on the government’s performance.”
However, some disgruntled leaders argue that Chairman KP Oli intentionally delayed the Central Committee meeting to avoid facing difficult questions.
A Secretariat member stated, “The meeting was pushed aside because there were growing concerns about the chairman. We had insisted that the meeting be held on time to keep the party autonomous and energize the cadres.”
Agenda for the meeting
A Secretariat meeting held on December 26 discussed the agenda for the Central Committee meeting.
Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali confirmed that the 42nd meeting of the secretariat, chaired by Oli, also reviewed the agenda.
Gyawali mentioned that four key issues have been set for the meeting: a political report, information on organizational work, approval of previous decisions from the secretariat, standing committee, and politburo, and contemporary proposals.
A member of the UML secretariat revealed that the meeting will also address the disciplinary actions taken against three leaders.
Additionally, discussions will cover the government’s performance and the party’s upcoming three-month public campaign.
According to Gautam, four reports are being prepared under the leadership of General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel.
“All reports are being finalized under General Secretary Pokhrel’s leadership, with input from the Organizational Department Chief, Bhanubhakta Dhakal. The final report will be completed by the General Secretary’s team,” Gautam told Khabarhub.
Sources indicated that the reports will be presented to Oli in the central committee meeting.
UML Chair Oli has shown particular interest in the political report and has been in discussions with General Secretary Pokhrel.
Rawal’s expulsion will not be reversed
The Secretariat meeting has already expelled former Vice Chair Bhim Rawal from the party.
Rawal, who had previously contested against Oli in the 10th General Convention, has been vocal in his dissatisfaction with the leadership since being sidelined by Oli.
After his expulsion, Rawal held a press conference and criticized the party, claiming that the UML had become a “leftist” organization under Oli’s leadership.
Despite this, no other UML leader has come forward to support Rawal’s stance. Some central members believe that expelling Rawal was a mistake, but the likelihood of the Central Committee reversing this decision is low.
A UML leader told Khabarhub, “We will raise the issue of Rawal’s expulsion, but there is no chance of it being overturned. He has repeatedly refused to engage in talks.”
Despite protests over the land, Pandey and Timsina raised concerns, and Dr. Gyan Bahadur Basnet and others filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court asking for the party to be prohibited from building on the land.
Meanwhile, Rawal has made it clear that he can no longer stay in the UML, stating, “I cannot deal with Oli’s working style and his nature. If someone stands up against me at a General Convention, can anyone expect me to remain in the party?”
Binda and Usha’s suspension may be reversed
The UML has suspended two central members, Binda Pandey and Usha Kiran Timsina, for six months for raising concerns on Facebook about the land they received from Min Bahadur Gurung.
The suspension may now be lifted. A leader from the UML Secretariat has suggested that the majority of the central committee members are likely to reverse the suspension.
“Many comrades disagree with the land donation, though some do and some don’t. It’s a separate issue, but this question should be raised in the central committee,” Timsina told Khabarhub.
“It seems the UML should always take a successful, controversy-free path, and we should be allowed to speak about this.”
Meanwhile, another leader from the UML Secretariat has expressed that the suspensions of Binda and Usha should be lifted.
According to the leader, the issue they raised is in the best interest of the Communist Party and should be supported. However, these leaders have not publicly spoken out on the matter.
“We raised it in the secretariat meeting, but haven’t voiced it publicly yet. This is how it will unfold,” the leader said.
Will the Central Committee speak out?
Prime Minister Oli received 10 ropanis and 14 aanas of land in Kirtipur Municipality-2 from Min Bahadur Gurung, the owner of Bhatbhateni Supermarket, whose case is still under review.
The Prime Minister and Gurung met shortly after returning from the United Nations General Assembly.
Gurung and his wife arrived at Baluwatar to meet Oli and promised to donate the land for the UML headquarters, even offering to construct a building on it. Oli laid the foundation stone of the building.
When this decision was made, Oli did not consult the party; only his “core team” was aware.
He held a secretariat meeting in Chyasal on the day of Phulpati in Dashain, where he cheerfully announced the donation of 11 ropanis of land from a well-wisher, but did not disclose the donor’s identity.
The UML is launching a three-month, ward-focused campaign from the Nepali month of Magh to Chait to strengthen its national presence.
Despite protests over the land, Pandey and Timsina raised concerns, and Dr. Gyan Bahadur Basnet and others filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court asking for the party to be prohibited from building on the land.
In the initial hearing, the Supreme Court issued a short-term interim order preventing the construction.
However, last week, Justices Bal Krishna Dhakal and Abdul Azim Musalman dismissed the petition, clearing the way for the office construction. Following the court’s decision, the UML suspended the two leaders.
So far, neither Pandey nor Timsina has commented on the suspension.
“You cannot raise your voice without a meeting. The UML has already collected 100 members and made a plan for the building. There is land in Balkhu,” said a leader.
“The UML lost trust after receiving donations from businesspersons. We must speak out to protect the party’s reputation.”
The issue of the land is now reaching the Central Committee for the first time. The Central Committee must approve the decision on the land. If the committee reverses the decision, it could benefit the UML, says leader Timsina.
UML leader Bhanubhakta Dhakal noted that whether the decision is reversed will be influenced by the actions of the person who has been prosecuted.
“It’s uncertain if the action will be reversed, but the person facing prosecution cannot continue speaking arbitrarily,” he said. “Let’s see what everyone says there.”
Government’s review
The upcoming meeting will also assess the government’s performance. Within the UML, concerns have been raised about the coalition government formed with Congress, which has yet to show significant results.
Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai stated that the central members will report on the government’s performance at the district level.
“What has the government, formed in alliance with the two major parties, achieved? How can we address the growing public dissatisfaction?” Bhattarai said.
Left-wing analyst Hari Rokka argues that if the UML is to avoid ideological collapse and remain true to communist principles, the leadership’s mistakes must be addressed.
“Our comrades will be presenting their reports from the district and state levels.”
The government’s performance will be a key topic at the Central Committee meeting.
At the Nepali Congress Mahasamiti meeting held in the Nepali month of Falgun last year, participants criticized the government formed in partnership with the CPN-Maoist Center.
Since Oli became Prime Minister, UML cadres and central members have largely refrained from discussing the government’s actions.
Root campaign following ‘grassroots’
The UML is launching a three-month, ward-focused campaign from the Nepali month of Magh to Chait to strengthen its national presence.
Following the 2079 BS elections, the party initiated a three-month “grassroots” campaign.
This year, Secretary Padma Aryal has reaffirmed that the party will take its message directly to the people.
The campaign was formally introduced during a two-day workshop on November 29-30, with plans to reach out to the grassroots level.
UML Publicity Department Chief Rajendra Gautam explained, “When we reach people’s homes, how will we present ourselves? How will we listen to their concerns? These are the issues we will discuss. Central members might also be tasked with responsibilities in this effort.”
We should not remain silent about wrongdoing: Analyst
Left-wing analyst Hari Rokka argues that if the UML is to avoid ideological collapse and remain true to communist principles, the leadership’s mistakes must be addressed.
He asserts that ideological leaders must be willing to openly distinguish between right and wrong, or the party will risk collapse.
“There are diverse opinions within the Communist Party, and they should be respected,” Rokka said.
“These differences should be subject to discussion and decision-making. The Central Committee must have the ability to reverse decisions, such as the controversial land donation made by UML from a questionable source. Leaders must be able to ask tough questions.”
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