UML is going to build its headquarters in Balkhu, Madannagar. UML, which has been moving since the headquarters known as 'Balkhu Lal Darbar' was destroyed by the 2072 earthquake, has decided to build its central office in Balkhu.

In Asoj 2081, businessman Min Bahadur Gurung said that he would build the UML office in Kirtipur-2 Maitrinagar, and the then Prime Minister and Chairman KP Sharma Oli laid the foundation stone. Then, UML leaders Binda Pandey and Usha Kiran Timsena took action after they held a different opinion and suggested that it should be built in Balkhu. The action against them was lifted only after 9 months. Even though Gurung said that he would build a state-of-the-art office on 10 ropanis and 14 aanas of land in Kirtipur-2, the land could not be handed over to UML. The Central Secretariat meeting held on Friday has decided to build the central office in Balkhu. After the party's central office building in Madannagar Balkhu was completely damaged in the devastating earthquake of 2072, the party's central office has been shifting from Pasang Lhamu Memorial Foundation to Sukedhara, a private house in Thapathali and Tulsilal Memorial Foundation to Chyasal, Lalitpur. After the Chyasal central office was set on fire during the protest on Bhadra 24, it has been repaired and is being operated. The UML is preparing to move from Chyasal after the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation issued a circular to vacate the land it occupies, saying that the rent has not been renewed.

The UML has stated that in the proposal passed by the secretariat, it has been agreed to stay until the new office is built by repairing and expanding the Tulsilal Memorial Building in the recent past, and that it has become a mandatory situation to search for a new office.

‘With the formation of the new government, a policy decision has been made to return the property of the establishments that have acquired the land under the lease of the land under the lease of the land. In such a situation, a compelling situation has been created for the party to immediately look for a new office building,’ the UML decision states, ‘There is no possibility of immediately constructing an office building at the place where the foundation stone was laid in Kalanki last year.’ With thanks to the donor (Min Bahadur Gurung couple) who proposed the construction of the building in Kalanki, their proposal will be withdrawn and now it will be decided to build the new office building in Madannagar, Balkhu.’

Similarly, with the recent decision of the Supreme Court that structures can be built 10 meters away from the river bank, the UML has stated that the central office can be built in Balkhu. ‘After the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the use of land near the river bank, a technical report has been received that it is possible to build a party office building on its own land in Madannagar, Balkhu.’ Therefore, until the new building is constructed, the office building will be managed on rent at a suitable place,' the UML decision states.

UML Central Office Secretary Bhishma Adhikari said that the design process for the building has already begun. 'Engineers have already started designing the central office. Preparations are being made to build it as soon as possible,' he said, 'Work will start after the demarcation is done.'

UML has about 12 ropanis of land in Balkhu. In 2078 Baisakh, Oli had laid the foundation stone for building a state-of-the-art central office in Balkhu. The building design for the office was also done. He was the Prime Minister at the time. But immediately after that, the Supreme Court in 2080 Pus decided to build the structure only 30 meters from the river bank, and the work on building the office was suspended.

Central member Binda Pandey said that the decision to build the headquarters on donations was wrong and it has now been confirmed. Saying that the decision at that time had caused damage, he said that the decision to build the headquarters in Balkhu was positive even though it was late.

‘At that time, we had voted to build the central office ourselves, not through donations, as per the decision of the central committee. We were suspended based on that vote. The decision to build the office through donations at that time caused great damage to the party,’ she told Kantipur. ‘It seems that the vote we had taken at that time to start building the office in Balkhu was correct. It has also been confirmed that the action taken against us at that time was completely wrong.’ She said that discretion should be exercised in the decisions to be made for the party in the coming days.

Leader Usha Kiran Timsena, who was involved in the action at that time, had submitted an explanation on 12 Kartik 2081. She said that she had ignored the vote that ‘a building built with one’s own sweat is more beautiful than a palace given by a businessman’.

‘Time is not running out, a building made with our own sweat will be as lovely and proud as the one we get in Madannagar than a big palace built by a businessman. I would like to request the leadership through this clarification, that this decision be withdrawn. Leave us a place to stand with pride as UML as long as we live,’ she wrote in the clarification.