KATHMANDU: Chairman of CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli, has summoned the party’s 25 House of Representatives members to the party’s central office in Chyasal, marking his first formal political engagement following the completion of his father Mohan Prasad Oli’s funeral rites.
The meeting comes shortly after the newly elected lawmakers took their oath at Singha Durbar. Oli is scheduled to address all 25 MPs at 3 PM on Thursday, where he is expected to issue directives regarding the party’s role in Parliament and its immediate political strategy.
This gathering carries added significance as it follows a disappointing performance by the UML in the Falgun 21 elections. The party secured only nine seats under the first-past-the-post system and 16 under the proportional representation system, bringing its total to 25—widely seen within the party as an electoral setback.
The outcome has also triggered internal discussions over leadership and accountability, with several top leaders, including Oli himself, facing defeat. In the aftermath, the party must now move toward selecting its parliamentary party leader, a decision that will shape its position in the new legislature.
Among those being discussed for the role is Vice Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa, while a section of younger UML leaders has been advocating for Suhang Nembang as an alternative face for parliamentary leadership.
Against this backdrop, Oli’s address in Chyasal is expected to set the tone for the party’s parliamentary conduct, internal alignment, and leadership direction as it navigates the post-election landscape.
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