As the CPN-UML’s 11th general convention approaches amid an intensifying leadership contest, internal divisions have resurfaced, this time over possible amendments to the party statute. Of particular concern are increasing the number of office-bearers—raising fresh questions about power-sharing and term limits.

At the UML general convention scheduled for December 13–15, party chair Oli will be challenged by senior vice-chairman Ishwar Pokhrel. Pokharel has the backing of a faction that includes former UML vice-chairperson and two-term President Bidya Devi Bhandari. The group made its concept paper public on Monday.

With Pokhrel certain to challenge KP Sharma Oli’s leadership, the latter has trained his focus on managing leaders within his own faction. As the aspirants for the party leadership in the Oli camp have grown, the faction is considering a bigger body of office-bearers to accommodate them. This has made the opposition faction suspicious.

The UML secretariat meeting, held on June 25, entrusted Oli with presenting a political report and Vice-chair Bishnu Paudel with drafting a statute amendment proposal for the Second National Statute Convention held on September 5–7 in Lalitpur, Godavari.

Paudel also proposed reducing the number of office bearers from the current 19 to just 11. The central committee meeting that concluded on July 22, while scrapping the age and term limits, increased the number of office bearers from 11 to 15. In addition, the meeting also decided to increase the number of central committee members from the proposed 251 to 301.

Paudel proposed on July 17 at a secretariat meeting dropping the age and term limits. The party earlier had the age limit of 70 years and two term limits for the party leadership.

The issue approved by the Central Committee was forwarded to the statute convention. The September convention also endorsed the Central Committee’s decision. However, as the date of the party’s 11th general convention approaches, efforts have begun to increase the number of office-bearers while retaining the age and term limits as stated in the statute.

Leaders close to Oli claim that the party statute formulated by the Second National Statute Convention is likely to be amended. The statute envisions 15 secretariat members, in a downsizing from the current 19. It also mandates a 251-strong central committee.

A UML leader claimed that the provision mentioned in the statute can be amended in reference to the 10th general convention of the party held in Chitwan in 2021.

Earlier, the First National Statute Convention of the party held in 2021 had provisioned a 15-member secretariat and a central committee with 251 members. However, the last central committee meeting before the 10th general convention held in Sauraha decided to increase the size of the secretariat and the central committee. The same meeting decided to institute a 19-member secretariat and a 301-strong central committee.

“To accommodate leaders, there still are chances for amending the party statute by the central committee meeting to be held before the 11the general convention,” Bishal Bhattarai, a central committee member, told the Post.

Krishna Pokharel, a professor of political science, describes the move to amend provisions in the statute in order to manage leaders within one’s faction as Oli bulldozing his decisions. In his view, if decisions endorsed by the statute convention are to be overturned within just three months, it raises serious questions about the relevance of the statute convention itself.

“A long-standing perception in the UML has been that whatever Oli wants eventually prevails,” Pokharel said.

“Even after the Gen Z movement toppled the government led by Oli, if leaders close to him allowed him to continue dominating the party and its decision-making, it would only invite more negative public perceptions of the party.”

While the Pokhrel faction maintains they have no issues in leadership selection in their panel, the Oli camp is considering amending the party statute itself. This, according to political analyst Jhalak Subedi, is due to the lack of respect for a proper party system.

“When it comes to leadership selection, there are no issues in our team. We can do that without smearing any individual,” vice-chair Surendra Pandey, who is close to Pokhrel, said at a function held on Monday to introduce their concept paper for the 11th convention. Pandey also stressed that they won’t let the establishment faction enforce such a decision.

Pandey openly challenged Oli to accept the age and term limits should the number of office-bearers be increased.

“We would agree to increase the number of office-bearers only if Oli accepts the provision limiting the chair to two terms as agreed earlier but amended by the Second National Statute Convention in September.

“On September 5–7, we held the statute convention and made a decision. After discussion, the number of office bearers was reduced to 15,” Pandey said.

If Oli insists on amending the statute to increase the number of office-bearers, Pandey said, “then let us first fix a two-term provision for the party chair”.

The UML statute stipulates a chairperson, three vice-chairs, one general secretary, three deputy general secretaries and seven secretaries. Oli’s camp has a large number of aspirants for posts such as general secretary, deputy general secretary and secretary. Competition is particularly intense for the post of general secretary, with three leaders close to Oli in the race.

While the incumbent general secretary, Shankar Pokhrel, seeks a second term, deputy general secretaries Pradeep Gyawali and Prithvi Subba Gurung have also staked their claims to the post.

Although sources close to Oli claim that the odds of Gyawali being put forward as general secretary are growing, the matter has not reached a logical conclusion.