The CPN-UML has decided to hold its 11th general convention in December, keeping the option open for incumbent chairman KP Sharma Oli to get elected for a third time.

The party’s central committee endorsed the proposal to hold the national jamboree for three days starting December 13 in Pokhara. The meet will elect the leadership for the next four years. The 10th UML convention held in November 2021 had elected Oli as party chair for the second time.

The party meeting, which began on Wednesday in the changed political scenario following the Gen Z movement that unseated Oli as prime minister, discussed in detail the protests of September 8 and 9. Several central leaders demanded Oli leave the chair, taking moral responsibility for the loss of life and property in the uprising.

However, Oli stuck to his position that he would not step down. In a 15-point political paper presented at the meeting on the inaugural day, he had said that it is not ‘what is said on Facebook” but the decision of the party or the general convention that will decide if he should relinquish position. However, ignoring the calls at the meeting to clear the ground for new leadership, he announced to continue holding the position. The meeting endorsed his stance.

“I have a huge responsibility. I am not going to step down without accomplishing it,” a central committee member who attended the meeting quoted him as saying. The general convention representatives will decide on it, the member added.

Presenting their views at the meeting, not just central committee members but also office bearers had suggested that he step down arguing that the party needs to contest the polls under a new leadership.

“It was our [government's] duty to stop whatever happened during the protest. We failed, whatever the reasons. We must take responsibility for that and apologise to the people,” said party secretary Yogesh Bhattarai, asking Oli to make an announcement now to hand over the leadership from the general convention.

Politburo member Thakur Gaire said the party desperately needs transformation, which should not be taken as opposition to the leadership. “I request the meeting to decide on leadership handover,” he said.

The call from youth leaders was louder. Arbind Singh said the party cannot go in the right direction if it continues to make decisions that please the leadership.

“Public anger is not just against the party but specifically against the chairman, his statements, and the group that operates around him. Leadership handover is the only way to save the party’s future,” Singh said. Usha Kiran Timsena, who has long been critical of the UML leadership, said there can be no excuse for Oli to continue to remain in power. Rubbishing the claims that the two-day protest was part of a larger conspiracy, she said, “There is, and has been, mass frustration. Let’s acknowledge it.”

After listening to over 150 central members, the party took decisions as Oli wanted. Making public the 22-point decision, Rajendra Gautam, the party’s publicity department chief, said there was no alternative to reinstatement of the House of Representatives that was dissolved unconstitutionally. “Reinstatement of the House is the only solution to bring the derailed politics back on track and also to address the demands of Gen Z-ers. How can Gen Z’s demands be addressed without a legitimate body to institutionalise them?” he said.

The party has also decided to mobilise masses to reinstate Parliament as the Supreme Court has already started testing the constitutionality of the interim government. Gautam said though the main responsibility of the Sushila Karki government is to conduct elections, it has taken no steps to create the environment for it.

The government’s actions show a desire to cling to power, Gautam said. “We have not said we will boycott the elections. Instead, our demand is the conditions under which our participation is meaningful, fair, and democratic.”