KATHMANDU: The recent Secretariat meeting of the CPN-UML has sparked a wave of internal dissent and public commentary after endorsing key structural and leadership changes, most notably strengthening the authority of party chair KP Sharma Oli.
The meeting proposed major amendments to be presented at the upcoming statute convention, including potential removal of term limits and the existing 70-year age cap for leadership positions. It also endorsed a restructured leadership model with a 15-member officer panel and a 25-member Standing Committee.
The Central Committee will be expanded to 251 members, one-third of whom will serve as Politburo members. The party also decided that no new representatives would be elected for the convention, though new invitees may be allowed to participate as organizers.
This provision is being interpreted by some as a strategic move to prevent figures like former President Bidya Devi Bhandari from entering the convention.
These decisions, perceived by critics as a consolidation of power by Oli, have drawn sharp reactions, particularly from within UML’s own former leadership.
Former Vice Chair Bhim Rawal, who was expelled from the party on December 25, 2024, lashed out on Friday via social media.
In a strongly worded post, Rawal accused Oli of being obsessed with power, likening him to the mythical figure Surasa for his alleged insatiable hunger for control.
This is not the first time Rawal has criticized Oli. He has consistently accused the party leadership of authoritarianism and eroding internal discipline, underscoring deep divisions within UML as it heads toward a pivotal convention.
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