UML’s 11th convention from today

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 13: The 11th general convention of Nepal Communist Party (UML) is beginning in Sallaghari, Bhaktapur, on Saturday.

The UML’s statutory general convention has already resolved policy issues; therefore, the ongoing 11th General Convention, set to take place from December 13 to 15, will primarily focus on selecting the party’s leadership.

The party said all preparations for the general convention have completed. 

This convention is being held a year ahead of schedule, due to mounting pressure for a leadership change following the Gen-Z movement of September 8 and 9, which overthrew the coalition government led by UML chairman KP Sharma Oli.

Meanwhile, party chairman Oli and Senior Vice-Chairman Ishwor Pokharel have announced their candidacies for the position of chairman.

Addressing a meeting with editors on Thursday, Chairman Oli announced that he intends to continue his leadership for the next tenure through the convention.

Similarly, Senior Vice-Chairman Pokharel, who has publicly opposed Chairman Oli, announced his candidacy through media interviews.

In recent months, Pokharel has increasingly argued that Chairman Oli should hand over the party leadership starting from this convention.

The Communist Party of Nepal was first established under the leadership of Pushpa Lal Shrestha in 1949.

Manmohan Adhikari led the party as General Secretary from the first General Convention held in 1953.

 The CPN-UML was created after the People'e Movement of 1990 by merging CPN-ML led by late Madan Bhandari and CPN (Marxist) led by late Manamohan Adhikari. 

Meanwhile, several other leaders, such as Shanker Pokharel, Surendra Pandey, Prithvi Subba Gurung, and Pradeep Gyawali, have reportedly announced their candidacies for the various positions.