KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has finalized his panel for the party’s 11th General Convention, but the line-up has sparked criticism for completely excluding leaders below the age of 40, despite repeated commitments to bring youth into the party’s top leadership.
While Oli has accommodated several new faces in his team, none of them fall under the 40-year age bracket. The absence of younger leaders has stood out sharply, especially after Oli himself pushed through a statute amendment during Sunday’s closed session, citing the need to strengthen the party following the Gen-Z movement of September 8 and 9.
As names from the Oli camp began surfacing under the amended statute, it became clear that the leadership overhaul had not translated into generational change. “We could not include youth in the team. We tried, but it did not work because of senior leaders,” said Mahesh Bartaula, one of Oli’s close aides. “No one under 40 could be accommodated. Only leaders above 40 made it in.”
Oli has confirmed Shankar Pokharel as the general secretary, a decision that has already triggered dissatisfaction within the party. Senior leader Pradeep Gyawali, who was earlier projected as a contender, has been reluctant to accept the vice-chair position and even walked out of the Gundu meeting. Efforts are ongoing to persuade him to stay within the panel.
The Oli panel includes five vice-chairs, most of whom are familiar and senior figures. Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’, Bishnu Paudel and Guru Baral have been retained, while Prithvi Subba Gurung and Pradeep Gyawali are the new names proposed. Gurung was previously a deputy general secretary, while Gyawali’s inclusion remains uncertain due to his reluctance to shift roles.
In the deputy general secretary positions, Lekhraj Bhatta has been promoted, while Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal has been moved down to the secretary level. Former secretaries Raghubir Mahaseth and Bishnu Rimal have also been included as deputy general secretaries.
Out of nine secretary positions, Oli has brought in six new faces, yet none represent the younger generation. Leaders often identified as youth voices, including Ram Kumari Jhakri, have been left out. Although Oli had reportedly considered inducting younger leaders, internal balancing and factional pressures prevented their inclusion.
Instead, Oli has favored experienced loyalists. Former Koshi Province Chief Minister Sherdhan Rai, known to be close to former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, has been picked as secretary after openly backing Oli. Hikmat Karki, a trusted UML leader from Jhapa and current Koshi Chief Minister, has also been included.
Mahesh Basnet, a leader known for his organizational strength and proximity to Oli, has secured a secretary position, as has Karnali Chief Minister Yamlal Kandel. Rajan Bhattarai has also been brought into the secretariat from Oli’s camp.
Despite these inclusions, resentment is growing among younger UML leaders. “There is a sense of doubt because no youth faces have been included,” said a leader close to Oli. “With Ishwar Pokharel’s panel likely to include younger leaders, there is concern that our panel may look weaker.”
Questions have also been raised about the absence of a woman vice-chair. Although there was strong pressure to promote Padma Aryal to that position, Oli ultimately retained her as secretary, citing leadership management challenges.
While Oli’s supporters describe the panel as comfortable and electorally secure, the complete exclusion of leaders under 40 has intensified debate within the UML over whether the party’s leadership renewal remains more rhetorical than real.
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