LALITPUR: The third Central Committee meeting of the CPN-UML has concluded.
The meeting, chaired by party Chair KP Sharma Oli and held since September 21, unanimously endorsed the political report presented by the chair.
The meeting also selected the remaining Central Committee members to be nominated following the party’s 11th General Convention and passed a 22-point contemporary proposal covering organizational issues, current political developments, and the flood and landslide crisis.
Bidhya Devi Bhandari named senior leader
The meeting nominated former party vice-chair and former President Bidhya Devi Bhandari as a “senior leader,” placing her second in the party’s leadership hierarchy.
The meeting also selected seven leaders as members of the Standing Committee. They are Ishwar Pokhrel from Kathmandu, Pradeep Gyawali from Gulmi, Kashinath Adhikari from Chitwan, Devraj Ghimire from Jhapa, Shivamaya Tumbahamphe from Morang, Lal Babu Pandit from Morang, and Tham Maya Thapa from Myagdi.
The meeting nominated 20 new Central Committee members: Kashinath Adhikari, Devraj Ghimire, Hari Rijal, Pasang Sherpa, Narendra Bhattarai, Nandaram Devkota, Dharma Giri, Narayan Gharti, Bidhya Sundar Shakya, Shantilal Mahat, Polten Chhepang Gurung, Prem Dangal, Surendra Udas, Binod Pandey, Pushparaj Shrestha, Bimala Ghimire, Shivamaya Tumbahamphe, Kaushila Khatri, Januka Simkhada and Bina Bastola.
Secretariat authorized to form Politburo and departments
Concluding the meeting, Chair Oli said the third Central Committee meeting had demonstrated a high level of understanding and strengthened unity within the party.
The meeting authorized the Secretariat to decide on the completion of the Standing Committee, formation of the Politburo, and establishment of the Advisory Council, party departments and Senior Communist Forum.
The UML expressed deep sorrow over the loss of more than 1,400 lives in the devastating Bhotekoshi flood on Bhadra 10, as well as the disappearance of more than 6,000 people and extensive damage to hydropower projects and infrastructure.
The party said the government’s disaster response had been disorganized, ineffective and irresponsible. It also accused the government of allowing critical time to pass because of its decision not to seek foreign assistance to rescue technicians trapped in tunnels.
The UML said Nepal had become a victim of the climate crisis caused by uncontrolled industrialization in developed countries and pledged to give high priority to the issue of “climate justice” at international forums.
Opposition to political retaliation and constitutional amendment
The UML condemned what it described as “political retaliation” and an extreme form of confrontation in the government’s attempt to arrest and prosecute party Chair KP Sharma Oli and Vice-Chair Bishnu Prasad Paudel.
The party called for the formation of a competent judicial commission to conduct an impartial investigation into the incidents of September 8 and 9, 2025 and demanded that reports of previous commissions be made public in full.
The UML also accused the government of attempting to undermine the fundamental pillars of the Constitution by forming a unilateral “task force” in the name of constitutional amendment. It said the party would stand firmly in defense of the Constitution.
The party also expressed concern over the use of bulldozers in squatter settlements, rising prices of cooking gas and food, and what it described as restrictions on media and citizens’ rights.
Call for caution
In response to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology’s forecast of heavy rainfall over the next three days and its issuance of a “red alert,” the UML urged citizens to remain cautious, avoid unnecessary travel and follow information issued by security agencies.
In a statement issued by General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, the party claimed that internal disagreements had ended and that emotional unity had been restored. He also called on party members to focus on protecting democracy and preparing for elections.
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