KATHMANDU: The ruling CPN-UML is preparing to eliminate the post of senior vice chair, currently held by Ishwar Pokharel, in a major organizational restructuring ahead of its upcoming Second Statute Convention, scheduled for September 5 to 7 in Godavari, Lalitpur.
A concrete proposal to remove the post is set to be tabled at the party’s Secretariat meeting on Thursday at its Chyasal headquarters. According to a UML office-bearer who spoke to Khabarhub on the condition of anonymity, the proposal will be put forward as part of a broader statute amendment plan, led by Vice Chair Bishnu Prasad Paudel.
The Secretariat meeting will also see Chair KP Sharma Oli presenting a political report, while General Secretary Shankar Pokharel will outline an organizational report to be submitted at the convention.
These discussions are part of the lead-up to a sequence of key gatherings: a Politburo meeting on July 18 and a Central Committee meeting on July 21, both of which are expected to approve the proposals before they head to the convention.
The move to scrap the senior vice president post comes amid rising tensions within the party. On June 28, during a Madan Bhandari Foundation event, Pokharel publicly criticized Chair Oli, a rare and pointed move that seems to have triggered internal recalibrations. Less than a month later, the party appears poised to eliminate his position entirely.
UML insiders say the same post had already been removed from the party’s sister organizations, and this step is intended to align the structure across all levels.
Along with removing the senior vice president position, UML is also considering shifting some of the powers currently held by the general secretary to the party chair, indicating a centralization of authority around Oli. An informal briefing has reportedly already been given to some party officials, but detailed discussions are expected during Thursday’s meeting.
There is also growing internal friction over two contentious constitutional provisions: the age cap of 70 years for leadership and the two-year term limit for top posts.
With former President Bidhya Devi Bhandari seen as staging a political comeback, debates around these rules have intensified. Observers within the party suggest that Oli aims to eliminate both restrictions, potentially paving the way for his continued leadership beyond the upcoming 11th General Convention.
If the age limit is lifted, Ishwar Pokharel could theoretically return as senior vice president—but with Oli’s plan to scrap the position entirely, that door appears to be closing rapidly. According to UML insiders, Oli, displeased with Pokharel’s public dissent and ongoing challenges, sees the removal of the post as a strategic move to consolidate his control.
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