KATHMANDU: Suraj Kharel, Lumbini Province president of the CPN-UML’s youth wing, the National Youth Federation Nepal (NYAN), has been suspended for one year for alleged disciplinary violations.
Kharel, who has publicly aligned himself with former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, was suspended following a decision taken by the association’s central secretariat meeting on July 25, according to a statement issued by General Secretary Ramesh Chaulagain.
The decision, based on clauses 41 and 42 (a) and (b) of the NYAN’s revised 2047 statute (amended during its 10th national convention held in Pokhara), relieves Kharel of all responsibilities and bars him from engaging in organizational activities for a year.
The association accused Kharel of submitting an “irresponsible and anarchic” written explanation in response to a show-cause notice issued over his conduct during the 10th national convention. He allegedly called an unauthorized provincial secretariat meeting, disobeyed party directives, and acted in a unilateral and defiant manner.
The notice had also cited his reported misbehavior toward members of the central presidium during the convention, threatening delegates, and tarnishing the party’s image through posts on social media targeting the UML leadership.
Kharel denied all allegations in a three-page email response, rejecting claims of misconduct and defending his support for Suman Puri during the leadership contest. He stated that calling for a leadership change through democratic means does not constitute wrongdoing.
“I was elected through a convention. Only another convention can remove me,” he wrote. “This suspension is unjust and biased. I will remain active in the association and continue my political work. If needed, a parallel committee could be formed.”.
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