KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Vice Chair Bishnu Paudel has formally announced his support for party Chair KP Sharma Oli in the upcoming 11th General Convention, ending speculation over his alignment in the internal leadership race.
Speaking at a press conference in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Paudel said he has already decided to back Oli for the top post. “Having served as the party’s General Secretary, I will not claim that position again. I am prepared to take the Vice Chair role,” he said.
Paudel clarified that UML currently has no provision for a Senior Vice Chair, and he is therefore planning to continue in the Vice Chair role if elected. “I am also a contender for the Secretariat member position,” he added, noting that internal negotiations are ongoing. “I cannot say how many teams will be formed at this stage, but I hope decisions can be made through consensus as far as possible.”
Earlier political observers had suggested Paudel might align with Senior Vice Chair Ishwar Pokharel’s camp, especially as factions quietly mobilize ahead of the national convention. However, Paudel’s formal declaration has now positioned him clearly in Oli’s bloc as the party enters a critical phase of leadership restructuring.
With major leaders revealing their positions, the 11th General Convention is expected to shape UML’s power balance for the next political cycle.
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