CPN UML Secretariat Meeting Concludes, Chairman Oli's Leadership Unchallenged

Kathmandu. The four-day secretariat meeting of the CPN UML, which raised strong dissatisfaction and criticism against Chairman KP Sharma Oli's leadership, has concluded by 'setting aside' these issues.

Although most secretariat members raised the issue of party restructuring by criticizing Chairman Oli's working style and leadership in the meeting, the final decision of the meeting came as per Chairman Oli's wishes.

The meeting has pushed aside the criticism of the leadership without formally recording it in the decision. Instead, by forming a task force under the leadership of Vice-Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa to conduct an overall review and proceeding based on its findings, the immediate anger and criticism within the party have been calmed. It should be recalled that the task force led by Thapa was formed at Oli's behest, so it cannot arrive at any conclusion to remove him.

The secretariat meeting has finalized the work division of the entire central committee and determined the seniority order of the central secretariat members. The seniority of Deputy General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai has been improved in the seniority list proposed by Oli.

Furthermore, it has been decided to give a suitable responsibility in the party to former President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

Informing about the meeting's decisions, Deputy General Secretary and Spokesperson Lekhraj Bhatta accused the current government of deviating from the path of democracy. CPN UML has strongly condemned the irregularities in customs administration, the indifference shown in solving the squatter problem, the dispute in the appointment of the Chief Justice, and the recent price hikes and violence against the Dalit community.

Spokesperson Bhatta said, 'The party will now launch a nationwide exposure campaign against the anti-people steps and wrong working style adopted by the government.' The party has also opposed the ordinance brought by the government.

The meeting has also finalized the seniority of party office bearers. The seniority order of leaders including Bishnu Poudel, Prithivi Subba Gurung, Gokarna Bista, Raghu ji Pant, Shankar Pokharel, Lekhraj Bhatta, and Yogesh Bhattarai has been arranged. Leader Mahesh Basnet, who is in the news, is in the 19th position.

With the objective of making the party organization more efficient and technology-friendly, UML has now started the system of obtaining party membership online. Also, all members have been instructed to renew their membership immediately.

Oli's Grip Strengthened

In the meeting, most secretariat members vigorously raised the issue of party restructuring. Many had expected concrete decisions regarding the leadership's working style from this meeting. However, the meeting decided to form a task force and passed the work division proposal presented by Chairman Oli with minor amendments.

This has clarified that Chairman Oli's grip on CPN UML's internal politics is still strong and no decision contrary to his wishes will be made. The four-day-long meeting has ultimately concluded by appeasing the leadership's criticism and focusing on the movement against the government and organizational strengthening.

According to CPN UML Secretary Khagraj Adhikari, reforms from the grassroots to the top of the party will be based on the task force's report. 'Now CPN UML will become more united, strong, and powerful under Oli's leadership,' he said. Concluding the meeting, Chairman Oli stated that there should be unity and understanding within the party, and if there are weaknesses, they should be discussed in the party committee, adding that he is ready to discuss any issue for that. 'There may be some weaknesses in the process of running the party, but I am ready to treat all members equally, now we all must reform the party together,' a source quoted Oli as saying in the meeting.

Central Committee in the Second Week of Ashad

Similarly, the central committee meeting of CPN UML has been scheduled for the second week of Ashad. Deputy General Secretary Bhatta informed that the secretariat meeting decided to hold the meeting in the second week of Ashad. According to him, the date of the central committee meeting will be set in consultation between the Chairman and the General Secretary.