Dissatisfaction has been expressed after the names of districts belonging to powerful leaders were included in the proportional list, contradicting Chairman Oli's statement that he would give necessary space to parties other than the establishment after the general convention.
What you should know
Dissatisfaction has arisen within the UML regarding the proportional list for the House of Representatives elections.
The disgruntled party says that the leaders' relatives and associates, those with access, those who have repeatedly benefited from the ruling party, and the 'Tarmara' class have been given priority in the closed list, contrary to the spirit of the proportional electoral system that ensures representation of neglected, oppressed classes, communities, and marginalized groups in parliament.
The discontent was expressed after the names of powerful leaders' districts were included in the proportional list, contradicting Chairman KP Sharma Oli's statement that non-establishment parties would also be given necessary space after the 11th general convention held in the last week of Mangsir.
The Vice Chairman Gokarna Bista and Yogesh Bhattarai factions had voted to include people from all parties in the secretariat meeting on Sunday to prepare the proportional list. After that, Chairman Oli himself took the responsibility of making the final decision. Objections have been raised after leaders other than the establishment party were not included in the list submitted to the Election Commission.
Vice-Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa, Secretary Padma Aryal, Shanta Chaudhary, Ushakala Rai, Niru Pal and Komal Wali, who had many opportunities while in the Maoists and UML, have been included in the proportional list. Thapa is a powerful minister and MP in the Maoists and UML government. Aryal is also a minister in the Oli government and Chaudhary, Rai, Pal and Wali have also been MPs before.
In the proportional list submitted by the UML to the Election Commission, the largest number of people from Oli's home district, Jhapa, have been included. 9 people from Jhapa have been included in the proportional list. 'The question is why so many from the chairman's district. Is Jhapa the biggest contributor to UML? This question is serious,' a leader expressed dissatisfaction.
According to the closed list submitted to the commission on December 14, Anita Subba, Bidyananda Rajbanshi, Narmadadevi Siwakoti, Menuka Kafle, Lata Prasai, Neeta Ghatani, Jitu Darji Gautam, Som Portel and Bina Sah Mahato have been included in the proportional list from Jhapa.
Komal Wali, Shanta Chaudhary and Sajida Siddiqui have been made proportional candidates from General Secretary Pokharel's district Dang.
Not a single candidate from the 17 districts of the country has been included in the proportional list. The leaders of those districts have expressed dissatisfaction. Not a single person has been included from Taplejung, Tehrathum, Okhaldhunga, Dolakha, Sindhupalchowk, Rasuwa, Makawanpur, Gorkha, Manang, Baglung, Rukum West, Dolpa, Jumla, Dailekh, Dadeldhura, Bajura and Rupandehi districts.
The highest number of people have been included in the proportional list from Jhapa and then from Dhanusha. Jhapa is the district of Oli and Dhanusha Deputy Secretary General Raghubir Mahaseth. There are 10 people from Jhapa, 8 from Dhanusha, 7 from Kathmandu, 5 from Chitwan, 5 from Kailali, 4 from Palpa, 4 from Dang and 4 from Dhading.
Similarly, the districts where three people have been recommended are Kavrepalanchowk, Rautahat, Siraha, Sarlahi and Banke. Two people each from 12 districts and one person each from 30 districts have been included.
UML leader Rajendra Gautam has expressed dissatisfaction over not being included in the proportional list. ‘It is an irony of the law that not a single person from my district is included in the proportional list,’ he said, ‘That is why there was no balanced list.’
Central member Rachana Khadka said that people who have not come to the mainstream of politics should be included, but people who have had opportunities repeatedly have been included. ‘Proportional arrangements have been made to bring capable people outside daily politics to the proportional list,’ she added, saying that proportional selection did not give a message of internal unity. ‘From the selection of general convention representatives to the competition, it was an opportunity to return to unity. But we could not implement it. How easy is politics for some? How did it become a success for some?’ She said that it would be difficult for the UML’s proportional list to attract the general public.
Secretary Rajan Bhattarai said that it is natural to be dissatisfied with important decisions, stating that people who have contributed to party life and should be included from different communities have been selected in proportional representation. ‘It is natural to be dissatisfied in a big party when making important decisions. People who can work in the proportional representation list have been selected,’ he said, ‘Those who are not involved in the party movement have not been selected.’
The commission held discussions on Thursday to finalize the list submitted by the UML. UML Election Commission Chief Niraj Acharya said that discussions were held with the commission to confirm the necessary details of the candidates on the list.
