CPN-UML Leadership Issues Ultimatum to Halt Special General Convention Petition Drive

Kathmandu. The CPN-UML has issued a stern warning to immediately halt the signature campaign demanding a special general convention. Acting Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' and General Secretary Shankar Pokharel summoned the leaders spearheading the campaign to the party office in Chyasal on Tuesday, warning of disciplinary action if the drive is not stopped immediately.

A leader stated that Gajendra Thapaliya, Chairman of the UML Intellectual Council, and Kamal Joshi, Deputy General Secretary of ANNFSU, were among those summoned and instructed to cease the campaign.

'Acting Chairman Thapa, General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, and Vice-Chairman Bishnu Paudel told us to stop the signature campaign immediately,' he said, 'but we replied that the campaign will not stop without a clear reason.'

During the discussion, Acting Chairman Thapa pressured the group, stating, 'If you do not listen, the party may suppress your rebellion according to the circumstances.' In response, the proponents of the special general convention questioned how someone who once took up arms against the state could suppress the voices raised by the party's youth.

In response, Thapa repeatedly pressured them to stop the campaign, promising to bring a proposal to the Central Committee meeting. The proponents demanded a written commitment to take the proposal to the Central Committee, but Thapa attempted to stall, stating that a written commitment could not be provided and that the matter was still under discussion. A leader noted that a heated exchange occurred between the two sides during the meeting.

ANNFSU Deputy General Secretary Joshi, who participated in the discussion, stated that the talks did not reach a conclusion. Vice-Chairman Bishnu Paudel urged the adoption of a middle-ground approach.

In the CPN-UML, youth, students, and intellectuals have launched a signature campaign demanding a special general convention, citing the party's humiliating defeat in the Falgun 21 elections as evidence that a leadership change is necessary. However, the party establishment is not receptive to this demand.

Although the sentiment among most leaders and cadres is that leadership should change in line with the spirit of the Gen-Z movement, the current leadership is unwilling to accept it. Despite calls for the second and third generations, including Oli, to retire from active politics, the leaders remain unwilling to step down.