KATHMANDU: Chair of the CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli, has expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as a lack of support from within his own party at a time when he was facing criticism from political opponents.
Addressing the ongoing closed session of the party’s 11th general convention at Bhrikutimandap on Sunday, Oli made the remarks in response to strong criticism voiced earlier by Senior Vice-Chair Ishwar Pokharel.
Oli said that when opponents were attacking and isolating him from all sides, he expected solidarity and goodwill from his party colleagues, but did not receive it. Referring directly to Pokharel, Oli proposed a consensus-based leadership model while cautioning against narratives that suggest discarding leaders once they grow old.
“Some comrades say, ‘Take Ishwar comrade’s basket back; you too should be thrown away.’ If anything from my side caused discomfort, I apologize,” Oli said. “But you can’t just say you’ll put someone in a basket and throw them away.”
He added that despite being surrounded by political adversaries, he did not feel adequate support from within the party. “I believed my comrades would stand by me, but that did not happen,” Oli said, asserting that he has never acted in a way that would lower the dignity of the country or the people.
Oli rejected claims that his continued leadership would weaken the party. “I hear Ishwar comrade saying that my continuity will destroy the party. That is absolutely not true,” he said.
The UML chair also claimed that he had made no mistakes during the Gen-Z movement of September 8 and 9.
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