Heated exchange among leaders at UML meeting

KATHMANDU: A meeting of the CPN-UML held on Friday witnessed a heated exchange among senior leaders, reflecting growing internal tensions ahead of the party’s 11th General Convention.

The meeting at the party’s central office in Chyasal turned contentious between factions aligned with party chair KP Sharma Oli and senior vice-chair Ishwar Pokharel.

Senior vice-chair Pokharel, vice-chair Surendra Pandey, secretary Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, and other leaders objected to what they described as character assassination of leaders and cadres with differing views, allegedly carried out by individuals linked to Chair Oli’s secretariat.

The dispute mainly centered on Rajesh Rai, who was reportedly prevented from filing his candidacy at the Press Chautari convention. Leaders said Rai had been targeted through objectionable social media posts made by Guru Bhattarai, considered close to Chair Oli.

Pokharel, Pandey, and Standing Committee member Karna Thapa had earlier drawn Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal’s attention to the issue, stating that a leader who had played a key role in promoting the party was being humiliated and sidelined.

During the meeting, Chair Oli reportedly reacted strongly, branding Rajesh Rai as “anti-UML.” In response, leaders aligned with Pokharel argued that Rai was not against the party or the movement but could be seen as opposing Oli personally.

“They may be anti-Oli, but that does not make them anti-party. Even critics exist within the UML, and that does not mean they are against the party,” leaders from the Pokharel camp said during the meeting.

In recent weeks, Rai and his group have been actively involved in campaigning for the Pokharel faction, which has intensified internal friction. The situation escalated further after leaders including Vice-chair Ashta Laxmi Shakya adopted a more aggressive stance, prompting visible irritation within the Oli-led camp.

The meeting, held just a day ahead of the UML’s 11th General Convention, was marked by sharp verbal exchanges and growing factional rifts.