KATHMANDU: The All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) general convention in Kirtipur, which has already excluded a segment of leaders by implementing a 32-year age limit, is now set to elect its new leadership through a vote.
This development follows widespread student protests that rejected attempts by CPN (UML) leadership to achieve a unanimous selection.
The UML had initially aimed for a consensus-based leadership selection in the ongoing election, which is taking place after the implementation of the 32-year age limit. However, when the election committee announced a proposed list of names for president and general secretary, students erupted in protest.
Following strong demands from students for an election, the UML was compelled to announce an election schedule for Wednesday.
Chants and slogans erupted after CPN (UML) Chair KP Sharma Oli, General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, and Head of People’s Organizations Coordination Mechanism Bhanubhakta Dhakal reportedly intervened, attempting to prevent an election and push for a unanimous leadership.
During the closed session, the presidium, citing consensus, had proposed Dr. Sujan Kadariya for president, Prakash Paudel and Anjana Siwakoti for vice-presidents, and Deepak Dhami for general secretary. However, as no agreement was reached, the election committee released a new schedule.
Previously, even Chair Oli and General Secretary Pokharel had instructed the ANNFSU to select its leadership by consensus. But supporters of presidential contenders Prakash Paudel and Deepak Dhami actively campaigned for an election, leading to the protests.
According to the released schedule, nomination forms will be distributed on Tuesday from 3 pm to 5 pm, with registration from 4 pm to 6 pm.
Voting is slated for tomorrow, Wednesday, from 10 am to 5 pm.
Despite only individuals under 32 years of age participating in the convention, the attempt by UML leadership to interfere and impose a unanimous selection led to intense chanting at the ANNFSU convention site in Kirtipur, making an election necessary.
The election process was set to begin on Tuesday as part of the closed session of the 24th general convention. However, the UML leadership’s intervention for a unanimous decision led to dissent.
The students’ defiance, including chants of “We want election! We want election!”, and their warnings to reject any decision to suppress the election in the name of consensus, forced the election schedule to be posted.
The closed session of the general convention, which began on Sunday, had already approved the organization’s political, organizational, and financial reports through group discussions.
Madhav Dhungel, a member of the convention’s presidium and secretary of the UML’s organization department, had stated earlier on Tuesday that the closed session would begin and the election process would move forward. However, the UML leadership’s attempt to achieve consensus without an election sparked rebellion, much like what happened in the Youth Association, compelling them to proceed with an election.
The general convention has already approved a 151-member central committee, nine office bearers, and the 32-year age limit.
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