KATHMANDU: Madhav Kumar Nepal, Chair of the CPN (Unified Socialist), has suggested that Jhalanath Khanal should return to the UML party if he believes there is no justification for rebellion within the party.
Speaking at an event with businessmen and industrialists affiliated with the Unified Socialist Party in Kathmandu on Friday, Chair Nepal accused Khanal of speaking ill of the party and making unnecessary comments in the media.
“If there was no justification for rebellion, then he should have stayed in UML serving KP Oli,” Nepal said, indirectly referring to Khanal. “If you want to build a party, you must show organization, go among the people, and face challenges. How can a party be built without reaching out to the people?”
On the matter of leadership transition, Nepal, who is now 72 years old, highlighted the need to give space to the younger generation. He cited youth leaders like Mohan Gautam and Alok as examples.
“I am 72 now. Subtract 18 from that, and it’s 54 years. If we advocate new leadership, then the second generation should come forward. We must be ready for leadership under 54 years of age,” he said. “If we seek leadership under 54, some senior vice presidents and vice presidents might feel uncomfortable. But after discussing generations, the answer comes. Currently, Mohan Gautam is a politburo member, and Alok, under 40, is a standing committee member.”
He urged everyone to work for the party’s reputation, protect the party’s interests, and implement party decisions. “We should not go against the party. We should not tarnish the party’s image in the media,” he said. “Why did they go to the media saying there is no justification for rebellion? If there was no justification, they could have served KP Oli within UML.”
Nepal also explained the rationale behind forming a new party after splitting from UML. “We rebelled and won both political and legal battles. We protected the Constitution by convincing the Nepali Congress,” he said. “I say with pride, that rebellion was justified.”
He clarified that they fought against Oli’s unconstitutional dissolution of parliament and his violation of the Constitution, which forced them to leave UML. “We did not leave UML out of desire but out of necessity,” Nepal said.
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