KATHMANDU: As the CPN-UML gears up for its 11th General Convention, internal power dynamics have intensified, with Vice-Chairman Bishnu Paudel formally aligning himself with Chairman KP Sharma Oli after weeks of silence.
His decision has reshaped the leadership equation, particularly regarding the future role of General Secretary Shankar Pokharel.
With Paudel’s decision, Oli now faces a leadership management challenge within his faction. Several leaders supporting Oli are competing for the post of General Secretary, while there is no shortage of candidates for Deputy General Secretary.
If needed, Oli could expand the number of office bearers to 19, as in the 10th General Convention, and may propose this during the convention’s inauguration.
Paudel also met faction leaders on Tuesday and reaffirmed his position as Vice-Chairman. On Wednesday, he declared that he would contest for Vice-Chairman, alongside the Chairman and General Secretary candidates, and reiterated that leadership should be chosen unanimously at the convention.
Push to block Shankar Pokharel from returning as Gen. Secy
Paudel, seeking to retain the Vice-Chairmanship, is lobbying hard to prevent Shankar Pokharel from being reappointed General Secretary. According to UML sources, Paudel has repeatedly urged Oli not to give Pokharel the position again. He had even conditioned his public alignment with Oli on Pokharel not being reappointed.
Oli, however, has not decided whether to retain Pokharel or promote Pradeep Gyawali as an alternative. Paudel insists strongly that Gyawali should be made General Secretary, arguing that he is better suited to guide the UML forward ideologically and theoretically.
Sources say Oli hinted that Poudel should “open up” while the matter is still under consideration. “If Prithvi Subba Gurung is accommodated, there is a possibility Shankar will be made Vice-Chair and Pradeep Gyawali the General Secretary candidate,” the source said.
Gyawali is preparing to run, and many UML leaders believe he would defeat Pokharel in an internal contest. Oli, meanwhile, is also cautious about preventing Ishwor Pokharel from capturing the position from another angle.
Discussions have also included the possibility of offering Shankar Pokharel the Vice-Chair role instead of General Secretary. However, leaders close to Oli say no final decision has been made.
“If Pradeep becomes General Secretary, Prithvi Subba Gurung may become Vice-Chair. Oli must also accommodate Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal as Senior Vice-Chairman, making the management even more challenging,” the source added.
Under the new statute, the party will have only three Vice-Chairmen. From Oli’s side, the names circulating are Badal, Paudel, Shankar Pokharel, and Prithvi Subba Gurung. If Pradeep Gyawali is elevated to General Secretary, Prithvi Subba would need to be placed as Vice-Chairman.
Why the tension?
An undeclared cold war has long existed between Bishnu Paudel and Shankar Pokharel, despite both belonging to the Oli camp. Their rivalry is especially pronounced in Lumbini Province, where their political bases overlap.
Disputes between them frequently surface in Secretariat meetings. In one meeting, Paudel reportedly mocked Pokharel by saying that “the state of the UML cannot be understood by carrying a laptop alone.”
Pokharel has faced criticism for spending more time around Oli than engaging with the party organization. Their factions often clash in district-level meetings, organizational activities, and provincial programs in Lumbini. Since both are close to Oli, managing the competing ambitions has become increasingly difficult.
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