CPN-UML holds representative election for 11th National General Convention

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, dec.1: The CPN-UML held election for delegates to its 11th National General Convention across the country on Saturday. The party’s central office informed that candidate nominations for the elections were completed by November 27.

In several electoral areas, consensus was forged, and representatives were nominated unanimously. However, in other areas where no agreement could be made, elections took place on Saturday. 

In some districts, the elections were postponed due to disputes, according to Rajendra Gautam, head of the party's central publicity department.

Gautam also shared that nearly 2,000 representatives will be selected from federal electoral constituencies, including positions for open seats, women, Dalits, and youth. 

In addition, approximately 100 representatives will be chosen from the diaspora, mass organizations, and party departments. Overall, around 2,200 delegates are expected to participate in the upcoming General Convention.

The party’s central organisation department had already recommended proposals for the selection process, which were approved by the party's Secretariat and sent to the lower committees for further action.

 A meeting of the Central Secretariat held on November 1 had decided that for every 1,200 members in a federal electoral constituency, two open seats and one woman representative would be elected. Additionally, it was mandated that at least one representative under the age of 40 should be included in each constituency’s selection.

The selection process also stipulates that for every 800 members, one representative will be elected, with women’s representation being mandatory. A similar formula has been established for Dalit representation, where one representative will be elected for every 500 members. 

Furthermore, trade unions at the provincial level will send seven representatives, while mass organisations will contribute five delegates. 

The federations will have seven representatives, and each department and office will send one representative. An additional five representatives will be selected from the overseas Nepali community, alongside other representatives from various organisations.

In total, 354 members from the central committee and 464 members from various commissions will automatically become delegates. 

With a total organised 667,630 party members, an estimated 1,900 representatives will be selected from different sectors, including federal constituencies, special districts, Dalits, trade unions, the diaspora, and party offices.

Leadership contest at general convention

The 11th general convention of UML is also expected to witness intense competition in the race for top leadership positions. 

In past, delegates at the UML’s general convention have been selected by consensus, but this time the party leadership has opened the door for elections if consensus cannot be reached.

This change indicates a heightened contest for leadership, especially for the position of party chair. Chairman KP Sharma Oli is seeking a third consecutive term as party chair, while Senior Vice-Chair Ishwar Pokhrel has officially announced his candidacy for the chairmanship.

The path for Oli to serve a third term was paved during the statute convention held on September 7.  Since then, leaders aligned with Oli have been preparing a slate of candidates. 

In a recent Secretariat meeting, Senior Vice-Chair Pokhrel declared his intention to contest the chairmanship and urged Oli to act as a guardian of the party, signaling that the contest for leadership within the UML is set to be a significant factor at the General Convention.