The number of office bearers in the UML was increased again by amending the constitution to manage the leaders of the Oli faction. However, the Pokharel faction has expressed objections.
What you should know
The UML has increased the number of office bearers by overturning the statute passed by the legislative general convention held on 20-22 Bhadra. Although the central committee decided to move forward with the statute on Friday, saying that it had ‘reflected the supremacy of the legislative general convention’, it was amended to manage the leaders of the establishment party and the office bearers were expanded. However, the senior vice-chairman Ishwor Pokharel faction has objected to this decision made by the majority.
Even though the agenda of the second day of the general convention was to go directly into a closed session, Chairman KP Sharma Oli had called a central committee meeting with the aim of amending the statute.
At the meeting, under Oli's direction, leader Khimlal Bhattarai put forward a proposal regarding the amendment of the statute. Senior Vice President Pokharel, Vice Presidents Yubaraj Gyawali, Ashtalakshmi Shakya and Surendra Pandey expressed the view that the statute should not be amended. Ignoring this, the majority of the central committee decided to amend the statute. This decision of the central committee has been passed by the closed session of the general convention. The National General Convention, being the highest body of the party, has the authority to amend the statute.
According to the amended statute, the size of the central committee has been increased from 251 to 301. The number of central secretariats has been increased from 15 to 19. The number of vice presidents and secretaries has been increased by 2/2. Now, the UML central structure will have a 301-member central committee including 1 chairman, 5 vice-chairmen, 1 general secretary, 3 deputy general secretaries, 9 secretaries, 33 standing committees, and 99 politburo members. The post of senior vice-chairman before the statutory general convention will not remain.
After senior vice-chairman Pokharel announced his candidacy for the post of chairman, the establishment has become more efficient in managing leaders. Earlier, more than 50 people were aspiring for the post of chairman. With the structure having 19 office bearers, including a standing committee and a politburo, it has become somewhat easier for Oli to manage leaders. On the one hand, it will be easier to manage leaders, and on the other hand, there will be less chance of disgruntled leaders siding with Pokharel. Oli had reached the conclusion of amending the statute after the Pokharel group started dialogue with leaders who were likely not to be in the panel of the establishment party.
Oli had become more efficient in managing leaders, especially in the posts of general secretary and vice-chairman. Prithvi Subba Gurung and Pradeep Gyawali, who are currently deputy general secretaries, are the contenders for the post of general secretary. But Oli wants to repeat Shankar Pokharel as the general secretary. If Gurung and Gyawali are managed in the two added vice-chairman posts, it will be easy for Oli to repeat Pokharel as the general secretary.
If it becomes necessary to make one of Gurung and Gyawali the general secretary, Pokharel can also be managed as the vice-chairman. Gurung, who is the deputy general secretary, is of the opinion that he should be the general secretary, and if that is not possible, Pokharel should not be repeated.
Since the number has been increased, Oli will not have a problem giving continuity to vice-chairmen Bishnu Poudel, Ram Bahadur Thapa and Guru Baral. Oli will also have another option to manage another deputy general secretary, Bishnu Rimal. Former Maoist secretary Lekhraj Bhatta wants to be promoted. If he is to be made the deputy general secretary or vice-chairman, leaders close to Oli will have to be transferred to other posts.
Chhabilal Bishwakarma, Padma Aryal and Raghubir Mahaseth, who are currently secretaries, are contenders for the deputy general secretary post. If Bishnu Rimal is re-elected for the post of Deputy General Secretary, which has three vacancies, then the current secretary will have to be content with the position of secretary. More than a dozen and a half leaders are aspiring for the post of secretary, which has nine vacancies. Politburo member Mahesh Basnet, who provided party chairman Oli with accommodation and security in Gundu after the Gen-G movement, is a strong contender for the post of secretary. Oli himself wants to make Basnet, who has supported him in times of trouble, the secretary.
From the establishment side, Sherdhan Rai, Bhanubhakta Dhakal, Agni Kharel and Hikmat Karki are aspiring for the secretary post from Koshi, Leelanath Shrestha and Lalbabu Pandit from Madhesh, Rajan Bhattarai, Kashinath Adhikari and Rameshwor Phuyal from Bagmati, Khagaraj Adhikari, Kiran Gurung and Padam Giri from Gandaki, Khimlal Bhattarai and Surya Thapa from Lumbini, Yamalal Kandel and Gorakh Bogati from Karnali, and Neeru Pal and Ganesh Thagunna from Sudurpaschim. Most of the current 23-member standing committee members, apart from the office bearers, are aspiring for the secretary post.
From the establishment side, Senior Vice President Pokharel has announced his candidacy for the president post against Oli. Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has supported him. A leader says that Bhandari is 'lobbying' the general convention delegates to vote in favor of Pokharel. The leader says that he has come out against Oli after his membership was put on 'pending'.
The Pokharel faction is preparing to form a panel of office bearers on Monday. From the Pokharel faction, Vice President Surendra Pandey and Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai want to become the General Secretary. Binda Pandey is ready to be the Deputy General Secretary, and Parashuram Meghi Gurung, Thakur Gaire, Surendra Manandhar, Rachana Khadka, Arun Nepal, Purushottam Poudel, Jhapat Rawal, and Ushakiran Timsena are preparing to emerge from the ranks. Gokul Baskota has said that he will run for the post of Secretary independently, but he is in discussions with the Pokharel faction.
With the election schedule made public, potential candidates from both parties have started campaigning by meeting social media and representatives directly. The establishment faction has put forward the idea that the Oli team should continue, saying that 'strong leadership is needed in times of crisis'. The Pokharel faction has put forward the issue of 'leadership reorganization, establishment of methods and procedures in the party'.
The UML Election Commission has made public the schedule for leadership selection. ‘There is a schedule for publishing the voters’ list and the final list of candidates on Monday,’ said Central Election Commission Chief Vijay Subba, ‘voting will be held on Tuesday for leadership selection, results will be out in about three hours after the voting ends.’ UML is using electronic voting machines in the general convention elections.
The structure of the 311-member central committee that will elect the leadership has been decided as ‘cluster’. This time, a 5 percent quota has been set for youth under the age of 40 in the central committee, that is, 15 people. Out of the (19) office bearers, there will be (72) chairpersons, 5 vice-chairpersons, 1 general secretary, 3 deputy general secretaries, 9 secretaries, and 9 provincial representatives from all 8 provinces, including the Valley. Similarly, there will be 5 open members, 3 women and 1 youth from all provinces. Out of the 125 open members, 71 are open members, 52 women and 2 youth. Out of the 25 tribal/tribal members, 15 open members, 8 women and 2 youth will be selected.
Similarly, 11 out of 19 open, 6 women and 2 youth leaders will be selected in the Madhesi quota. 1 out of 2 migrants from India and 1 from other countries, 2 out of 3 open and 1 woman from workers, 1 person with disabilities, 7 out of 12 Dalits, 4 women and 1 youth will be central members. The ‘cluster’ has been decided to have 5 open and 3 women from the Tharu ‘cluster’ out of 8, 4 open and 1 woman from the Muslim community, and 1 open and 1 woman from the backward areas. One-third of the 301-member Central Committee will be the Politburo and one-third of the Politburo will be the Standing Committee. Therefore, there will now be 19 central office bearers, 33 standing committees and a 100-member Politburo.
Political scientist Krishna Pokharel comments on the move to amend the statute passed only three months ago in the UML as a way for Chairman Oli to win the election. ‘In Bhadau too, the number of office bearers was reduced from the constitution due to self-interest, now that Oli is strong, it has been increased again,’ he says, ‘Yesterday, Oli had a majority in the central committee, and he still has it. He amended the constitution to win the election easily.’
He says that the self-interest-oriented policy of the leadership has raised questions about the legitimacy of the constitution convention, which was carried out with great expense and hard work. ‘Why did the constitution convention have to be made so much fuss for the arithmetic that required further amendment?’ Political scientist Pokharel says, ‘This is called the tyranny of the majority.’
