UML begins nationwide selection of delegates for 11th National General Convention

KATHMANDU: CPN-UML has begun selecting delegates across the country today for its 11th National General Convention.

According to the UML Central Office, nominations for delegate elections were filed in all federal constituencies on November 27. While several constituencies have reached internal consensus, elections began at 8 AM today in constituencies where consensus could not be reached. The voting process will continue until 2 PM.

Rajendra Gautam, head of the party’s Central Department of Publicity and Publication, said districts are conducting elections based on their local convenience.

Gautam informed that around 2,000 delegates will be selected from federal constituencies under various categories, including open, women, Dalit and youth. Likewise, around 100 delegates will be chosen from the diaspora, sister organizations and central departments.

In total, about 2,200 delegates are expected to participate in UML’s 11th General Convention.

Earlier, the UML Secretariat had already approved the proposal submitted by the Central Organization Department and circulated the selection procedures to subordinate committees.

According to the Secretariat’s decision made on November 1, each federal constituency must elect two open-category delegates and one woman delegate for every 1,200 party members. Additionally, at least one youth delegate below 40 years of age must be selected from each constituency.

Similarly, one delegate must be elected for every 800 members, ensuring the inclusion of women. For Dalit representation, one delegate must be elected for every 500 members.

The structure for representation includes seven delegates from trade unions per province, five delegates from each sister organization, and seven delegates from confederation-model organizations. Each department and central office will send one delegate, while diaspora committees will send five delegates from each continent.

The UML Central Committee will automatically contribute 354 delegates, with additional representation from the party’s internal bodies, 29 from the Disciplinary Commission, 30 from the Accounts Commission, 25 from the Election Commission, and 25 from the Advisory Council.

Out of UML’s total organizational membership of 667,630, delegate representation will include 45 from provinces, approximately 970 from federal constituencies, 47 from special districts, 81 from Dalit groups, and 49 from trade unions.

Including representation from diaspora committees, central departments and offices, and sister organizations, more than 1,900 delegates are expected.

The Central Committee will nominate an additional five percent of the total delegates. With all categories combined, the party estimates that more than 2,100 delegates will participate. Gautam added that the Secretariat’s recent decision has slightly adjusted the membership ratio, increasing the number of delegates.

The approved delegate-selection guidelines have already been circulated to the respective committees.