KATHMANDU: Senior Vice-Chair of CPN-UML, Ishwar Pokharel, has officially announced his candidacy for the party chairmanship at the upcoming 11th General Convention scheduled in Kathmandu from December 13–15.
In his announcement, Pokharel highlighted a comprehensive agenda centered on internal democracy, organizational reforms, and a transparent leadership transition.
He pledged to reinstate former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s party membership, stressing that her exclusion had been politically harmful for UML. Pokharel also highlighted the need to reinstate the two-term limit for the chairmanship in the party statute, arguing that this would facilitate smoother leadership handovers. He underscored the importance of strict enforcement of party discipline, auditing, financial transparency, and effective implementation of decisions to strengthen internal governance.
Inclusivity remains a core focus of Pokharel’s agenda, as he called for statutory amendments to ensure meaningful participation of youth, women, Dalits, indigenous nationalities, Madhesis, Muslims, and minority groups within the party.
Reflecting on the September 8–9 Gen-Z movement, he expressed respect for the peaceful protest while demanding an impartial investigation into the violence, vandalism, and infiltration that occurred during the demonstrations.
Pokharel also highlighted the need to restructure the party organization in response to the country’s evolving political context and to rejuvenate the ideological framework established by Madan Bhandari, adapting it creatively to contemporary challenges. He stressed that party-affiliated organizations should be free from factional influence, with leadership positions filled through fair competition.
Highlighting member engagement, Pokharel noted that direct participation of party members in candidate selection is crucial, alongside prioritizing citizen feedback. He expressed confidence that current Chair KP Sharma Oli will play a constructive role in ensuring a smooth leadership transition following the convention.
Pokharel said a detailed political document outlining his full agenda will be released soon, aiming to unify UML, strengthen internal democracy, and institutionalize transparent leadership practices.
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