By-election review: UML concludes failure to connect with urban voters

Kathmandu, December 10 — The CPN (UML) has concluded that it has failed to connect with urban voters. This conclusion was drawn during a review of the recently held by-elections at a secretariat meeting on Tuesday.

However, the party considered the victory in 8 positions, including the chairperson and vice-chairperson, as an achievement, despite not winning back all 7 wards out of the 42 in which it contested.

After the meeting, Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali shared the outcome.

"We have achieved additional success in the by-elections. Although we won 8 positions in total, including the 7 previously vacant, we take the overall result seriously," Gyawali said.

"We have concluded that the results in Kirtipur and Kathmandu Metropolitan City-16 were not as expected, and we need to seriously address connecting the party with urban voters," he added.

UML also observed that the overall public sentiment has changed, not just for them, and they took it seriously, asserting that public representatives need to win the trust of the people.

Additionally, the UML considers the China visit of its chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli from December 2 to 5, along with the BRI framework agreement, as a success for the government.

"The Prime Minister’s visit to China was successful. The agreements made with China should be swiftly implemented by both countries," Gyawali said.