No elections in YCL as Maoist leadership seeks consensus pick

KATHMANDU: The CPN (Maoist Centre) has decided not to allow elections within its youth wing, the Young Communist League (YCL), and will instead appoint new leadership through consensus, despite growing pressure from internal factions demanding a democratic process.

The decision was finalized in a meeting of top Maoist leaders at party chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’s’ residence in Khumaltar on Thursday, three days after the national convention opened at Pragya Bhawan, Kamaladi.

Though the closed session began soon after the official inauguration on Monday, the leadership selection has been stalled due to intense competition among aspirants and the party’s internal maneuvering.

Party spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota confirmed that the Maoist Centre has decided to resolve the leadership question in YCL through mutual understanding rather than a vote. This effectively blocks the electoral process within the youth wing, similar to the party’s previous move in the student organization ANNFSU (Revolutionary).

There are over a dozen contenders for the top post, with intense lobbying underway. Current chair Subodh Serpali has already declared he will not seek reappointment, leaving the seat open for fierce competition.

Prominent contenders include Vice Chair Kair Singh Kunwar, Deputy General Secretary Pushpa Oli, and Secretaries Navaraj Air, Ganesh Shahi, Madhav Basnet, Prem Shrestha, Thakur Saurag, and Karma Pulami. Among these, Pulami (Koshi), Oli (Lumbini), and Kunwar (Karnali) are believed to be close to Dahal and are seen as the front-runners for chairmanship under the consensus model.

However, not all factions are on board. Janardan Sharma, Deputy General Secretary of the Maoist Centre, is reportedly advocating for an election, arguing that the YCL, like other mass organizations, should go through a democratic process.

His allies, including Air and Shahi, have pushed for a vote. But with Khumaltar firmly backing a consensus, the election path seems closed.

YCL’s convention is expected to select a 61-member leadership team, including one chairperson, seven vice chairs (one female), one general secretary, eight deputy general secretaries (with inclusive quotas), 17 secretaries (including proportional representation), and one treasurer.