KP Sharma Oli has made a comeback as the CPN-UML party chair for the next five years as he managed to install leaders of his choice in all key offices bearers’ positions, consolidating his grip on the party.

Despite his bid to stall elections, voting did take place to elect party chair, vice chairs and secretaries as well as Central Committee members.

Oli defeated Bhim Rawal, who has emerged as his latest bete noire in the party, with 1,614 votes.

“Oli garnered 1,837 votes against Rawal’s 223 votes,” announced Bijay Subba, head of the Central Election Commission.

There were 2,153 representatives who made up the voters. But only 2,096 votes were casted, according to the party’s Central Election Committee.

After several postponements, voting started at 4am and ended at around 10:30am Monday.

Yubaraj Gyawali, Asta Laxmi Shakya, Ram Bahadur Thapa, Subas Nembang, Bishnu Poudel and Surendra Pandey have been elected vice-chairs of the party. All were proposed by Oli for the posts.

Bhusal, who had challenged Oli’s proposal, had fought for the vice-chair post, but lost. Bhusal could secure only 725 votes.

The revised party statute envisions six vice-chairs.

Yogesh Bhattarai, Gokarna Bista, Chhabilal Bishwokarma, Raghubir Mahaseth, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Lekhraj Bhatta and Padma Aryal have been elected secretaries. They also were proposed by Oli.

Bhim Acharya and Tanka Karki, who had challenged the consensus list proposed by Oli, lost the polls.

Voting did not take place for senior vice-chair, general secretary and deputy general secretary posts.

Ishwor Pokhrel and Shankar Pokhrel were elected senior vice chair and general secretary, respectively, unopposed after Oli proposed them for the posts. Similarly, Oli’s favorites Pradeep Gyawali, Prithvi Subba Gurung and Bishnu Rimal were elected deputy general secretaries unopposed.

As per the revised statute, the party has one senior vice-chair, one general secretary and three deputy general secretaries.

Three former Maoist leaders who joined the UML only a few months ago have managed to grab key posts.

Ram Bahadur Thapa is one of the vice-chairs in the party. Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Lekharaj Bhatta have become secretaries.