CPN–UML chair KP Sharma Oli has formed a 19-member Standing Committee, including party vice-chair Bamdev Gautam. Oli, however, has not included even a single leader from the Madhav Kumar Nepal faction in the Standing Committee. Oli, however, has given space in the committee to those who came from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre).

Oli’s move comes after back-to-back talks with Nepal at an upscale hotel in Kathmandu during which both sides refused to budge from their stances.

“Today’s meeting of the party’s 10th national convention organising committee has formed a 19-member Standing Committee,” said Bijay Subba, a UML leader, who is also a member of the national convention organising committee.

Ishwar Pokhrel, Shankar Pokhrel, Pradeep Gyawali, Satya Narayan Mandal, Subas Chandra Nembang, Bishnu Poudel, Bishnu Rimal, Chhabilal Bishwokarma, Raghubir Mahaseth, Kiran Gurung, Prithvi Subba Gurung, Pushpa Raj Kandel and Keshav Badal are the members in the Standing Committee. Four other members are Ram Bahadur Thapa, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Lekhraj Bhatta and Mani Thapa, former Maoist Centre leaders.

The ninth national convention of the UML in 2014 had elected the 15-member Standing Committee. Madhav Nepal and yet another leader was added to the committee, making it a 17-strong committee. Later, five more members were added.

Jhala Nath Khanal, Bhim Rawal, Surendra Pandey, Ghanashyam Bhusal, Yubaraj Gyawali, Asta Laxmi Shakya, Bhim Acharya, Gokarna Bista, Yogesh Bhattarai and Raghuji Pant were the members. All these leaders are close to Nepal and Khanal.

The Standing Committee, however, was dissolved after the UML and the Maoist Centre merged in May 2018 to form the Nepal Communist Party (NCP).

But the Supreme Court on March 7 invalidated the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and revived the UML and the Maoist Centre. Subsequently, Nepal and leaders close to him returned to the UML.

Over the past weeks, Oli has made various moves, taking the UML under his full control. After dissolving the Central Committee, Oli on March 12 formed the 10th national convention organising committee.

According to another member of the national convention organising committee, Friday’s meeting also removed four leaders who had defied the party whip last week in Karnali as party members and members of the Karnali Provincial Assembly.