KATHMANDU: A closed session of the 11th General Convention of the CPN–UML is set to begin at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu today (Sunday) to select the party’s new leadership.
The session, scheduled to start at 3 pm, follows the convention’s inauguration at Sallaghari in Bhaktapur on Saturday and will continue in Kathmandu today and tomorrow.
Party Chair KP Sharma Oli is facing a leadership challenge from Senior Vice-Chair Ishwor Pokharel. However, as the session is about to start, neither side has formally announced its panel. Pokharel, who has declared his candidacy for the chairmanship, is reportedly supported by former President and former party vice-chair Bidya Devi Bhandari’s faction, raising speculation about a potential “Ishwor-Bidya” panel.
A total of 2,262 general convention representatives are participating in the leadership selection process. Under the party’s current structure, UML has 15 office bearers, including one chair, three vice-chairs, one general secretary, three deputy general secretaries, and seven secretaries.
Meanwhile, CPN-UML Chair KP Oli has amended the party statute, effectively retaining the provisions adopted at the 10th General Convention by revising the newly drafted statute within three months. Under the amended statute, the party will have a 301-member Central Committee, including 19 office bearers.
The statute amendment proposal was tabled at a Central Committee meeting at Bhrikutimandap on Sunday and passed by a majority of members. While leaders from Senior Vice President Ishwor Pokharel’s faction expressed strong dissatisfaction with the amendment, the majority supported Oli’s proposal. As Oli pushed for a decision, most members applauded, sidelining the Pokharel faction.
Following the approval of the amendment, members of the Pokharel faction were seen chanting slogans inside the Bhrikutimandap hall in protest.
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