KATHMANDU, Dec 8: CPN-UML Senior Vice-Chair Ishwar Pokhrel, who has announced his candidacy for party chair, is set to present a separate political document at the party’s 11th General Convention.
This move comes at a time when UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has indicated that only his proposal will be tabled at the convention. Pokhrel and leaders from his camp are scheduled to visit Oli’s residence in Gundu in Bhaktapur at 2 PM today to request permission to present their proposals for discussion.
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Pokhrel is preparing to table an alternative document even as Oli has publicly stated that he will speak at the convention and that no further debate will be entertained. “We will submit our political proposal and distribute it to the delegates. We will formally request the chair for discussion and hand over a written letter,” a leader close to Pokhrel said.
Pokhrel has repeatedly stressed the need for broader debate in the upcoming convention. He has argued that a serious review of developments since September 8 is essential and that new strategic direction is needed in political, organizational, and constitutional matters.
He has already hinted at this through a social media post, stating that debates should be conducted in line with the party’s guiding ideology—People’s Multiparty Democracy (Janatako Bahudaliya Janabad)—and that delegates must play a key role in reaching new conclusions. Pokhrel has also said that the UML has historically taken responsible positions during national crises and provided necessary leadership.
He has further noted that although the statute convention held from September 5-7 passed several documents—including the political report, organizational proposal, and statute amendment proposal—there is now a need to revise and discuss them again, citing major political changes since September 8.
Pokhrel’s faction has scheduled an interaction with journalists today at 11 AM, after which they plan to head to Gundu to meet Chair Oli. Internal competition within UML has intensified in recent months, with factional polarization increasing after the Gen-Z protest movement. Pokhrel’s camp is working to form a candidate panel, with Vice-Chair Surendra Pandey and Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai taking the lead. Previously, Gokul Baskota and Binod Dhakal had coordinated Pokhrel’s internal group.
