KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Vice Chair Astalaxmi Shakya, known for her simple lifestyle, often seen in a plain sari and modest coat, is Nepal’s first female Chief Minister. She rose to the position during the near-split of the UML, leading Bagmati Province. Having dedicated her life to politics through sacrifice and discipline, Shakya did not file her candidacy in the 2022 elections, saying she could not afford the increasingly expensive electoral system and therefore did not even ask party chair KP Sharma Oli for a ticket.
Shakya has consistently raised her voice for the UML to adhere to its long-held principles and ideological foundation. She has repeatedly expressed concerns that the party is failing to move forward in line with the People’s Multiparty Democracy doctrine advanced by Madan Bhandari. She is dissatisfied with what she calls Oli’s continuous decline of the party, pushing aside hardworking leaders and centralizing authority around himself. In a recent Secretariat meeting, Shakya even demanded Oli’s written resignation. But Oli refused, insisting there was no alternative to his leadership.
In this backdrop, Khabarhub spoke with Shakya regarding the party’s upcoming 11th General Convention. During the conversation, Shakya formally announced her support for Senior Vice Chair Ishwar Pokhrel to challenge Oli for party leadership. Holding Oli responsible for the Gen-Z movement upheaval, she said leaders in positions of power cannot run away from accountability. Despite having repeatedly given Oli chances, Shakya argued that the party has had to bear continuous losses under his leadership. Therefore, she believes the time has come to seek an alternative.
“The party’s reputation has collapsed. UML, which was built through sacrifice and commitment, has not been safeguarded at all,” Shakya told Khabarhub. “The country is being run like a joke by one person driven by self-interest. Even security has reached a critical point. Nobody knows what could happen next. We have put forward Comrade Ishwar to break this arrogance in leadership.”
Shakya said the party should now focus on elections rather than the reinstatement of the dissolved House as of September 12. She expressed pain that the party built through decades of struggle has landed in such a difficult situation.
She is unafraid of retaliation from Oli for speaking out. Shakya still remembers the humiliation she faced when Oli tried to push Dorman Paudel as Bagmati Chief Minister instead of her. When asked whether she fears being expelled from the party like others Oli has sidelined, she responded, “In a democracy, you cannot say ‘I will finish you.’ No one runs away out of fear. Those committed to their ideology do not get frightened. They discuss what is right and wrong, and they are ready to face the consequences, but they do not flee.”
Shakya has even called on General Convention delegates to rebel to save both the UML and the country from what she describes as Oli’s regressive direction. She argues that since Oli has pushed both the party and the nation backwards, delegates have a responsibility to correct the course.
Questions now arise: How will UML present itself at the 11th General Convention? Will Oli and Pokharel lead separate panels? Will UML truly adopt new leadership before heading into elections? And to what extent was former Prime Minister Oli responsible for the events of September 8 and 9?
Below is the edited excerpt of the conversation with Astalaxmi Shakya.
So, will there be a competition between Chair KP Sharma Oli and Senior Vice Chair Ishwar Pokhrel in UML’s 11th General Convention?
Yes. People’s Multiparty Democracy itself says that healthy competition must exist. Qualified candidates must be allowed to compete. Those who meet the criteria should be able to contest.
We had repeatedly told the Chair to clear the way. We said the crisis we are facing now emerged during his time as Prime Minister, that the situation arose because he failed to read the gravity of events. He could not analyze the special circumstances. Schoolchildren died unnecessarily; the entire country caught fire. We had already discussed this in the Secretariat. We made our concerns clear.
Now the party needs reorganization; it must move in a new direction. The demands of the new generation are not illegitimate. Zero tolerance toward corruption must be practiced, not by shutting down social media. These demands should have been addressed through discussions. Instead, he chose to take a different path.
Are you saying Chair Oli showed a conservative mindset while leading the country?
Yes. A Panchayat-era autocratic mindset still dominates him. Even after the arrival of a new generation in a federal democratic republic, he refused to think differently.
We repeatedly asked him to make way, but nothing changed. Even as new generations entered the party, they were never given responsibility or opportunities. It’s not right for the same person to remain Chair and Prime Minister continuously. We raised these concerns many times, but he never listened.
Even in Thursday’s meeting, he said, “I will not leave; the party cannot run without me.” Right after that, Comrade Ishwar said he was ready to contest. We had hoped the Chair would step aside gracefully, but he did not.
If Ishwar Pokhrel steps forward, will the party take a new direction?
Ishwar Comrade is someone who has lived through the party’s hardships. His role in building this organization is enormous. He has struggled, he has sacrificed, even lived underground. His history is full of hardships.
Chair Oli spent 14 years in prison, yes, that was difficult. But in terms of party-building, Oli has nowhere near the contribution that Ishwar Comrade has. Oli has no comparable experience in organizational struggle. The person who truly built the party through hardship must be honored.
Behind Ishwar Comrade, there are many of us—Yuvraj, Surendra, Bishnu, and others. After his announcement, we are confident.
So you will support Ishwar Pokhrel?
Yes. We are supporting Ishwar Comrade. The party needs a strong and ideological leader to counter disorder and anarchy. We need a visionary leader who can overcome this crisis. Ishwar Comrade is on that path.
Does this mean UML will see competition between the Oli camp and the Pokhrel camp?
Yes, our team will be formed. We have decided to stand on the side of truth. If we continue under the current leadership, where will the country end up? Where will we end up? Where will our hard-earned federal democratic republic and constitution go?
This is not a joke. A nation must exist for leaders to exist, not the other way around. Many of Oli Comrade’s mistakes have pushed the country into difficulty.
Is your team already prepared?
It is being prepared. It will include both senior and new leaders as per party procedures. We will support efforts to end the current crisis. Ishwar Comrade must now present his vision.
Look at what happened when Oli was repeatedly both Chair and Prime Minister, the situation only worsened. Leadership, not mere workers, determines the country’s direction. And the leadership has led us into this crisis.
If leadership doesn’t change, how hard will it be for UML to face the public?
Very hard. The party’s prestige has collapsed. UML was built through sacrifice—Pushpa Lal, Madan Bhandari, Manmohan Adhikari. It was built on their vision and dedication. It is painful to see the party fall this low.
Today I remember Sukhanī, Chhintang, Piskar, Bhiman—this nation was built through rivers of blood. It cannot be run according to the whims of one person. People are struggling to eat. We cannot allow a single leader’s arrogance to decide the fate of the country. For this very reason, we have put Ishwar Comrade forward.
Some fear Ishwar Pokhrel will be treated like Bhim Rawal— sidelined.
We were never negative about Bhim Rawal. We become emotional even speaking about him. At that time, because leaders like Madhav Nepal had left, we supported Oli Comrade in a difficult moment.
But his conduct toward Rawal was not sincere or fair. People’s Multiparty Democracy permits healthy competition. If Rawal had been strengthened and supported, UML would be in a much better position today. A mistake was made. We still have respect for Rawal.
But Oli has a track record of expelling those who challenge him. Isn’t that a concern?
In a democracy, saying “I’ll destroy you” doesn’t work. No one runs away out of fear. Ideological people don’t run. They discuss right and wrong and accept outcomes. They don’t flee.
We have all experienced his behavior. Even when he talks about unity, his conduct does not change. We are people pushed to the margins, yet we are still committed to saving UML. Thousands who sacrificed for democracy and republicanism have never received justice.
There are talks that former President Bidya Devi Bhandari also supports Ishwar Pokhrel. Is this true?
What we have seen and heard publicly could be true. But beyond individuals, the real question is: Who stands for truth? Who stands for justice? Who is committed to resolving the national crisis? Who listens to the people and the cadre? Is the party operating by rules? Are responsibilities assigned fairly?
That is why many have united behind truth.
So, will UML’s 11th General Convention engage in serious discussion on ideology and leadership?
It will. It must. Without serious discussion, the party may not die, but it will fracture. The party built through so much sacrifice is weakening, and that pains us deeply.
If Oli repeats his leadership, wouldn’t that make things harder for your faction?
No. Delegates must be allowed to judge right and wrong. They want a party run by rules and policies. Everyone is pained by the crisis in the nation and the party. The country must be saved.
We urge delegates to stand on the side of truth, the nation, and the people. We must save the party and country rather than becoming slaves to individuals.
How are the delegates positioned? How many support Oli and how many support Pokhrel?
It’s not about numbers. It’s about how they decide. They should not engage in personality worship. Personality cults have destroyed communist movements.
As Pushpa Lal said, “Not personality worship—carry forward the policy and behavior.” The party must rise from that principle if it wants to build the party and the nation.
KP Oli is now widely unpopular. If leadership doesn’t change, will UML struggle in elections?
UML should go to elections rather than trying to restore the dissolved House of Representatives. The government has already announced the dates. The government exists for elections. We had said clearly, stop hesitating, go to elections.
But Oli tried to revive Parliament.
And yes, it will be very difficult to go to elections under the same leadership. The country should never have reached this state. Leadership cannot absolve itself by blaming others.
Finally, how responsible was Oli, as Prime Minister, for the Gen-Z movement and the violence of September 9?
This incident must be thoroughly analyzed. It was not a spontaneous movement. External infiltration created disorder and destruction. But our Chair failed. As Prime Minister, all security agencies were under him. They repeatedly warned him, but he ignored them.
Because of this negligence, the events of September 9 occurred. Violence and arson were carried out riding on the Gen-Z protests.
Why did the government become so weak that it had to flee? He must explain why he had to leave Baluwatar. If he had done a good job, why would he have needed to resign?
Oli Comrade cannot claim to be untouched by this incident. He is responsible. He always disregarded the concerns of the country and the people.
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