KATHMANDU: A new internal rift has emerged within the ruling CPN-UML as its affiliated think tank, the Nepal Intellectual Council, has launched a public survey that directly questions recent decisions taken by the party’s Central Committee, most notably the removal of the two-term limit for executive positions and the 70-year age cap for leadership roles.
This move comes ahead of the UML’s Second Statute Convention, scheduled for September 5 to 7 in Godavari, Lalitpur.
The party leadership has already declared the convention as a crucial political platform to shape the party’s future course, with plans to discuss the political and organizational reports, statute amendment proposals, and reports from key advisory councils and commissions.
The party’s Central Committee, during its meeting on July 21–22, had endorsed the removal of several key restrictions, including the two-term limit for top leaders, the age ceiling of 70 years for office bearers, and the provision barring former presidents from regaining party membership.
Following the decision, party chair KP Sharma Oli issued an internal directive instructing members not to raise these sensitive issues for further debate.
In a move seen as defiance of that directive, the Nepal Intellectual Council has begun collecting opinions through a 12-point public survey. The questions aim to gauge public and party sentiment on reinstating former members in high positions, enforcing age limits for office bearers, restricting multiple terms in executive roles, and barring those who previously held constitutional positions from returning to active party leadership.
Council chair Gajendra Thapaliya has rejected the notion that the survey contradicts party policy. He stated that the initiative was launched to facilitate meaningful debate during the upcoming statute convention, arguing that if discussion is not allowed, the convention itself becomes meaningless.
He added that the survey also targets the general public and is part of the Council’s attempt to democratize statute discussions. Thapaliya declared that the survey will continue regardless of internal resistance.
However, party leaders have expressed concern over the Council’s actions. Rajendra Gautam, head of the UML’s Publicity and Publication Department, said that questioning settled matters could spark unnecessary controversy and weaken party unity. He warned that attempting to challenge Central Committee decisions through public surveys amounts to defying official party policy and violates organizational discipline.
Under KP Sharma Oli’s leadership, internal criticism has increasingly been silenced. Leaders who previously questioned party decisions, such as Standing Committee member Dr. Binda Pandey and Central Committee member Usha Kiran Timilsina, were disciplined and only recently reinstated.
In addition, UML-aligned mass organizations, including the Youth Association and the Trade Union Federation, have taken action against members who publicly oppose the leadership. A recent meeting of the Mass Organization Coordination Mechanism, held in Baluwatar, reportedly concluded that leaders who speak against the party line should be firmly dealt with.
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