KATHMANDU: On Tuesday, a viral claim spread across social media that UML Secretary Lekhraj Bhatta had left the party.
This news surfaced despite Bhatta’s active participation in the ongoing Central Committee meeting of CPN-UML since Sunday.
While rumors circulated about Bhatta quitting the party, he was seen attending the meeting. The confusion was exacerbated when former Secretary Bhim Upadhyaya was accused of spreading the news of Bhatta’s departure, claiming that Bhatta had left the party.
However, Bhatta firmly denied the rumors, calling them part of a planned conspiracy against him. He clarified that he had never considered leaving UML and stated that certain forces, particularly those whose influence was weakening in the Far-Western region, were behind the fabricated story.
Bhatta said the idea of leaving the party was unfounded and had been propagated to create confusion. He pointed out that the growth of UML in the Far-Western region was alarming for certain individuals who had seen their political influence wane.
These individuals, he said, were trying to harm his political character by spreading false information.
Former Secretary Upadhyaya responded on Facebook, stating that he had posted the initial claim in error and had since deleted it. He also expressed regret for the misunderstanding.
Bhatta explained that the current political environment in the Far-Western region, where UML was gaining momentum while other forces were losing strength, had led some to believe that targeting him might weaken the party’s influence.
He further stated that the attacks on him were part of a broader attempt to undermine the party’s position both locally and nationally.
In his response, Bhatta expressed that certain individuals wanted him to align with their interests, and when that didn’t happen, they resorted to such tactics.
He said the personal attacks against him were ultimately attacks on the party’s growing influence in the Far-West.
As the Far-Western region’s in-charge of UML, Bhatta dismissed the notion that weakening him could destabilize the party.
He made it clear that no such efforts would succeed. He added that despite the confusion, he remained committed to strengthening the party’s presence in the region.
Bhatta also assured that the party was actively working on a new three-month campaign to strengthen its grassroots efforts and unify its members.
He stated that these efforts would help clarify any misunderstandings and further solidify the party’s foundation.
In a related development, 27 out of 46 individuals from Bhatta’s hometown in Kailali, who were rumored to have left UML and rejoined the Maoist party, clarified that their signatures had been forged. They issued a statement on Tuesday asserting that they remained loyal to UML.
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