Oli Cites Ho Chi Minh's Call for Unity Amidst Party Meeting

Kathmandu. CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli has suddenly remembered the supreme leader of the Vietnam Communist Party, Ho Chi Minh. Before concluding the UML secretariat meeting, which lasted for six days at his residence in Gundu on Sunday, he quoted Vietnamese communist leader Minh and called on UML leaders to unite.

Quoting Minh's saying 'Unity, Unity, Great Unity,' Oli called on the leaders to unite. It is meaningful that Oli quoted Minh's saying after the party faced a major setback in the House of Representatives elections on February 21, putting it in a defensive position both internally and externally.

In 1961, at the second national conference of the 'Vietnam Fatherland Front,' Minh emphasized unity and success. He said, 'Unity, Unity, Great Unity. Success, Success, Great Success.'

At that time, Vietnam was going through a difficult phase of foreign intervention, war, and internal division. When the country was in a very difficult situation due to internal and external attacks, Minh urged the country's farmers, workers, intellectuals, various religious and community groups, and political groups to unite for a common national objective. Minh's clear message was – if the people are divided, the country becomes weak. If all forces are concentrated in one place, even a great struggle can be won. Because 'Great Unity' is the basis for national independence, social change, and development.

In Minh's view, 'Great Unity' was not just political unity, but a common front for the entire nation, emphasizing that everyone should rise above their self-interest and organize for the country.

Last year, the Oli-led government was overthrown during the Genji movement in Bhadra. In the elections held against Oli's wishes, UML suffered its biggest setback in history. Oli himself was defeated by a wide margin in his home constituency Jhapa-5 by Balen Shah, the former mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. UML, which became the first party in the 2079 elections by securing 28.55 lakh votes, was reduced to third place in the 2082 elections with only 14.45 lakh votes.

Serious accusations were leveled against Oli for the massacre of youth and failure to protect the country's historical heritage while the party itself led the government. There is talk in political circles that not only the party but the entire communist movement is in jeopardy because of Oli.

However, Oli has been alleging that the Genji movement was due to the conspiracy of national and international powers. Although he defended his actions, leaders who had supported him in the past did not support him this time. They suggested he resign, accusing him of weakening the country, the party, and the entire communist movement.

Cornered from all sides, Oli called a secretariat meeting on Jestha 4 to review the elections and distribute tasks to the leaders. Feeling immense pressure due to being in the minority within the party less than six months after the general convention, he took a stance on Saturday that he would not resign under any circumstances. He also warned the leaders not to advise him on resignation.

'Don't advise me, you don't have to advise. I will not leave the leadership. No one should do anything to put the party in trouble, so don't talk about changing the leadership now,' Oli said.

According to sources, only Vice-Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' and Secretary Mahesh Basnet stood in support of Oli. However, Secretary Mahesh Basnet claimed that the party is not in the minority. According to him, only Vice-Chairman Bishnu Poudel and Deputy General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai expressed the opinion that it would be appropriate for the leadership to resign.

'Comrade Yogesh Bhattarai, while speaking, said it would be appropriate if the chairman paved the way. Then Comrade Bishnu Poudel said that along with the review of the elections, the party should be reorganized. Apart from this, I did not hear any third person speak on this matter,' Basnet said.

Basnet claimed that former Vice-Chairperson Bidya Devi Bhandari and the party's decisions were passed unanimously. He said that all the rumors in the media were false. He stated that leadership change is possible only if Chairman Oli himself wishes.

'Leadership change happens within the Communist Party, but leadership will not change in the middle as the general convention was held five months ago. Leadership change happens through a method and process. Our regular general convention is held every five years,' Basnet said, 'Before that, it happens if the chairman himself wishes or resigns. Today, we cannot reach that point by changing the leadership or weakening the chairman.'

Secretary Padma Aryal said that the party has become united, realizing internal and national unity. She asserted that the decisions of the meeting were passed unanimously.

'Vietnamese revolutionary leader emphasized great unity to maintain national unity while fighting internal and external conflicts at that time. We are also facing many challenges internally and externally. I think the chairman quoted the Vietnamese communist leader when the nationality itself was in danger,' she said.

However, a leader from UML said that Oli might have tried to compare himself with Minh to appear nationalist and suppress the voices of opposition. 'Oli plays different cards when in trouble and when things are smooth. When there is pressure within the party to resign due to leadership weaknesses, he might be trying to cover up his weaknesses by comparing himself with the great Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh,' the leader said.

Meanwhile, spokesperson Lekhraj Bhatta, making public the official decision of the meeting, said that Oli specially emphasized Minh's saying. 'The chairman gave us instructive training. He specially emphasized Ho Chi Minh's saying. Minh had said unity, unity,' Bhatta said, 'Similarly, UML also needs unity. We have to move forward with that spirit. And if we have enthusiasm, we can bring enthusiasm to the workers at the lower level. The chairman gave instructions that it is possible.'

The meeting, which remained silent on Oli's resignation, formed a high-level task force under the leadership of Vice-Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' to review the elections and suggest measures for party reorganization. The task force has been given a deadline of one month to submit its report. Other members of the task force include Vice-Chairman Bishnu Poudel, Prithvi Subba Gurung, General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, Deputy General Secretary Lekhraj Bhatta, Secretary Chhabilal Bishwakarma, and the in-charges of all seven provinces. Oli has once again silenced the leaders demanding his resignation for party reorganization. Badal, who has stood as a pillar for Oli's every decision recently, is unlikely to bring a report unfavorable to him.