The 11th General Convention of the UML is beginning on Saturday with the main slogan 'Building a decisive national power is our resolve, a prosperous Nepal is a happy Nepali national destination.' Chairman KP Sharma Oli will inaugurate the convention at a ceremony to be held in Sallaghari, Bhaktapur.

Although there is a provision in the statute to hold a general convention every five years, this time it has been organized a year in advance. The tenth general convention was held in Chitwan in Mangsir 2078 BS. The UML general convention is being held in the new political situation that has developed after the Gen-G movement. Since the statutory general convention to set policies and procedures was held last Bhadra, this general convention will focus on selecting the leadership. 

In the closed session of the general convention, Chairman Oli is preparing to present a political report and General Secretary Shankar Pokharel an organizational report. Senior Vice President Ishwor Pokharel is preparing to present a 'counter' proposal to Oli's report. He has already registered a 'concept paper' at the central office.

The concept paper criticizes Oli's working style and raises questions about the party's internal democracy. Pokharel is preparing to run against Oli for the post of chairman. Analysts have compared this convention to the 8th convention in Butwal in 2065. 

They compared the two conventions in terms of political, ideological and leadership competition. In the 8th convention, Oli not only competed for leadership, but also presented a different political document. He was defeated by Jhalanath Khanal for the post of chairman. 

The 8th convention had proposed democratization of Oli's party life. In the 7th convention in Janakpur in 2059, Oli had also submitted a proposal regarding democratization of the party, but it was not passed. 

Political analyst Jhalak Subedi says that the 11th convention challenged the traditional leadership, so it is consistent with the 8th convention. 'In the 8th convention, Oli challenged the traditional leadership. In this convention, Ishwor Pokharel is challenging Oli ideologically and in leadership,' he said. 

Subedi says that this general convention is also challenging in terms of Nepal's political scenario. 'The general convention is being held at a time when the Gen-G movement has displaced the UML-led government. Questions are being raised about the Gen-G movement, the UML chairman and then Prime Minister Oli himself. The Gen-G movement has raised questions about the political parties and the constitution after 2064. In this different situation, the leadership's thinking seems traditional,' he says, 'It is difficult to lead the country when you leave the general convention without resolving the politically raised questions.'

The ninth general convention held in Shrawan 2071 provided an easy opportunity for Oli to take political direction and leadership. Oli defeated Madhav Nepal, who had been the party general secretary for 15 years, for the post of chairman. In the tenth general convention held in Chitwan in November 2078, Oli had reduced the democracy of party life to mere name. Bhim Rawal and Ghanshyam Bhusal, who competed against the establishment in that general convention, were unable to remain in the UML. 

Discussions have begun about the political future of Senior Vice President Pokharel, Vice President Yubaraj Gyawali, Ashtalakshmi Shakya, Surendra Pandey, Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai, and Standing Committee Member Karna Thapa, who came out against the establishment in the current general convention. Pokharel has been saying that he will accept the results of the election.

UML is moving forward in line with the work line of the Fourth General Convention. The Fourth National Convention of the then Male held in Siraha in Bhadra 2046 had put forward a policy of adopting the concept of multi-party competition instead of new democracy. It was approved by the Fifth General Convention. The Fifth General Convention held in Kathmandu in Magh 2049 had adopted the People's Multi-Party Democracy (JBJ) put forward by Madan Bhandari as the program of the Nepali revolution. The Eleventh General Convention has also put forward JBJ as a guiding principle.

2,154 delegates, elected from districts, party departments, fraternal organizations and those in the Central Committee, are participating in the General Convention. Five percent of the elected delegates, or 108, are nominated by the Central Secretariat. 309 members of the Central Advisory Council are participating as observers. 

18.4 percent, or 396 delegates, are under the age of 40. The largest number of delegates is in the 50-59 age group, 34.8 percent. The 40-49 age group is 27.5 percent (593 people), the 50-59 age group is 34.8 percent (750 people) and the 60-79 age group is 17.3 percent (373 people). The delegates to the General Convention are over the age of 70, 1.9 percent (42 people).

According to Politburo member Bhanubhakta Dhakal, 10,000 volunteers are being mobilized for the General Convention. Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepali Communist Party Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and other leaders and representatives of diplomatic missions have been invited to the inauguration ceremony of the general convention, informed Bagmati Province In-charge Rajan Bhattarai. The closing session of the general convention will be held at Bhrikutimandap.