KATHMANDU: Serious questions have been raised about internal democracy within the CPN-UML after dissenting voices were blocked at the party’s second statute convention, currently underway in Godawari, Lalitpur.
Chair KP Sharma Oli removed a dissenting proposal put forward by Standing Committee member Karna Thapa from the official agenda, effectively barring him from presenting his views. Despite standing for nearly 30 minutes to speak, Thapa was denied the floor by Oli.
Thapa had submitted a 32-page dissenting document to the party’s central office ahead of the convention. However, Oli refused to allow the report to be presented.
The dissenting proposal focused on key issues such as the state of internal democracy in the UML, challenges in the party’s organizational system, and the controversial continuation of former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s party membership.
Thapa had also sought to raise the issue of democratizing party life, an agenda previously highlighted by Oli himself. But despite being initially listed on the program, Oli ultimately blocked Thapa from speaking on the convention floor.
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