KATHMANDU: Senior CPN-UML leader Pradeep Gyawali has rebelled against party chairman KP Sharma Oli after being denied the post of General Secretary, a position he had naturally expected to contest.
Gyawali, who has consistently stood with Oli in party politics, had presented himself as a natural contender for the General Secretary position even before the 11th general convention was officially announced. His candidacy received support from prominent party leaders, including Vice Chair Bishnu Paudel and Deputy General Secretary Prithvi Subba Gurung.
However, Oli, backed by Deputy General Secretary Bishnu Rimal and other allies, decided to continue Shankar Pokharel as General Secretary. Pokharel has already been nominated for the post and will now face competition from Surendra Pandey. Initially, Oli’s plan was to accommodate Gyawali in the panel by nominating him as Vice Chair, but this proposal failed to satisfy Gyawali, prompting his rebellion.
Breaking ranks with Oli, Gyawali has now filed his candidacy only for central committee membership rather than accepting the Vice Chair post. His proposal was supported by Pershu Pandey as proposer and Ramji Dhakal as supporter. Gyawali’s move signals both his personal dissent and broader frustration over the party’s nomination decisions.
Meanwhile, Deputy General Secretary Prithvi Subba Gurung, who had actively pushed for Gyawali to be nominated as General Secretary, has also filed his candidacy for Vice Chair after failing to secure the top post for his ally. Gurung’s delayed nomination reflects his continued loyalty to Gyawali and dissatisfaction with Oli’s decisions.
Speaking to journalists after submitting his candidacy, Gyawali described his shift from a top leadership role to that of a regular party worker. “It is not right to repeatedly appoint the same person to top positions. My heart is deeply pained. I have always been at the forefront of the party’s movement,” he said.
Gyawali said he would continue to contribute to the party’s activities as a central committee member and remain actively involved in most party campaigns and movements. He expressed disappointment that the party did not provide equal opportunity for competition, stating that he had expected a fair chance for all candidates but felt this principle was not followed.
The rebellion by Gyawali, one of Oli’s longstanding supporters, underscores growing tensions within the faction and could have ripple effects on other office-bearer nominations. Analysts say the development strengthens the position of Ishwar Pokharel’s camp, which stands to benefit from growing dissent within Oli’s faction ahead of the central committee elections.
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