After the 10th Congress of UML held in November 2078, the leaders who raised questions against President KP Sharma Oli have been prosecuted. Because of this, there is a shortage of leaders who hold different opinions. Recently, after the former President Bidya Bhandari started coming into the active politics of UML, the leaders started questioning Oli's working style. Is different opinion prohibited in UML? Ekantipur had a conversation with UML Vice President Ashtalakshmi Shakya about this.

Why was former President Vidya Bhandari prevented from entering politics in UML?

Vidya Bhandari did not advise the party. Previously, he did politics together with the president. It didn't go well as his membership was thrown into controversy all at once . A respectable person should not have come into active politics .

Do you consider dissent to be taboo lately? A different opinion should be kept in the

party . Must be able to keep . Leaders are not afraid to voice their opinions. If you don't keep your point within the party, you will be scattered outside . Original leadership should make it easy to hold different opinions. The more political and ideological discussions are held in the party, the better. Different votes are also needed to strengthen the party.

But recently, did you have a different opinion or are you afraid of being prosecuted?

The political leadership of the communist parties of Nepal was not ideological. Methodology, system not established . The factional tendency is more . Leadership hybrid thinking should be removed . Only then will the party system become strong . The party is a huge organization . Everyone should have an atmosphere of self-respect. There are many challenges facing the party now. There is a lot of work to be done. A party can't be big by being liberal. Democracy has no meaning if you cannot speak within the party. We still have a lot to think about. Democratic culture should be developed in the party. It makes the party stronger.