Oli Directs Task Force to Exclude Leadership Change from Report

Kathmandu. CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli has instructed the task force led by Vice Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' not to include the words 'leadership restructuring or change' in the 'suggestion' report it prepares.

Chairman Oli himself attended the task force meeting held on Thursday after collecting suggestions from 13 places including seven provinces and gave such instructions.

'Do not mention anything in the report you are preparing that will cause controversy within the party,' Oli said in a directive style at the task force meeting held at the party office in Chyasal.

Following Oli's instructions, some members protested and questioned, stating that the autonomy of the task force should not be interfered with. Sources said that some members even questioned Oli, asking 'What will be the autonomy of the task force?' after Oli intervened in such a directive style at the meeting.

'The task force is autonomous. But if you come to the meeting and give instructions, what will be the autonomy of the task force?' a task force member said, quoting the exchange in the meeting, protesting Oli's instructions, 'Why did you have to come? Is it appropriate for you to say such things at a task force meeting?' But Oli did not respond.

After the task force members expressed dissatisfaction, Oli left the meeting on Thursday after making a brief statement. However, UML Secretary Bhanubhakta Dhakal argues that it is not appropriate to call the chairman's presence in the task force an 'intervention'.

'The chairman came to the office as there was a party entry program. At that time, the chairman came to the meeting and gave his best wishes,' Dhakal said. 'I am not aware of any instructions given like 'do this, do that'. Why would it be necessary to say so after giving the task force its mandate!'

At the beginning of the meeting, General Secretary and task force member-secretary Shankar Pokharel 'briefed' Oli and others about the representative suggestions collected.

'After the General Secretary's briefing, the chairman left, assuming the report would be discussed in the secretariat,' said the member. 'He didn't stay long, but there was no need for him to be present at the task force meeting.'

The task force had been collecting suggestions on party restructuring and strengthening, including an election review, for about a month starting from Jestha 30. Based on these suggestions, the task force will prepare a report. The report will also include the essence of the opinions of the task force members.

The responsibility of finalizing the report based on the suggestions received from workers and task force members has been given to the task force coordinator Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' and member-secretary Shankar Pokharel.

Secretary Dhakal informed that the report will be prepared by including the suggestions and conclusions received from the field.

'The suggestions from the grassroots will be included as they are in the report,' Dhakal said. 'The report will be structured with one section containing suggestions from the grassroots and another section with suggestions from the task force.' According to Secretary Dhakal, the draft will be completed in 4-5 days, and the report will be finalized after discussion in another task force meeting.

The majority of suggestions collected by the task force are said to be for changing the current leadership and restructuring committees.

'The majority of suggestions are that Oli should step down from the leadership,' the member told Ratopati. 'A minority of suggestions are that Oli should remain in the leadership.'

According to that leader, if the opinions from the grassroots are included as they are, and the opinions of the task force members are also included in the report, it will be concluded that 'leadership change is the point of exit'. UML leaders said that after the task force finalizes the report, it will be presented for discussion at the secretariat and then at the central committee meeting.