KATHMANDU: Vice-Chair of the UML, Astalaxmi Shakya, has accused current party Chair KP Sharma Oli of political gender violence, raising sharp criticism as the party prepares for its 11th General Convention.
Speaking at an inter-dialogue program on Tuesday, Shakya condemned the practice of discouraging questions about the Chair’s actions, calling it wrong.
“Was Chair Oli born from someone’s womb or not?” she remarked, stressing that party workers across the country belong to the party, not to Oli personally.
Another senior leader, Dr. Binda Pandey, called for ending the tradition of male-dominated decision-making, stating that women should also have the right to give input and make decisions.
Shakya noted that the proposal addressing gender violence, passed at the party’s 9th General Convention, has yet to be implemented. She urged that the issue be included in the agenda for the 11th General Convention for discussion.
Other female leaders also stressed the need for collective support to eliminate rising political gender violence within the UML, highlighting the importance of women’s active participation in party leadership and decision-making.
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