KP Sharma Oli Determined to Retain CPN-UML Leadership

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, who lost power due to the Gen-Z movement, is determined to retain leadership of the party. After resigning as Prime Minister, Oli stayed under army protection for a few days. Once he left the security perimeter, he moved to a residence in Bhaktapur’s Gundu area and has been meeting party officials to secure support for continuing as chairman.

Sources indicate that Vice Chairman Bishnu Poudel, General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel, and Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali have warned Oli about potential complications from this approach, but he remains adamant.

One-on-One Meetings to Consolidate Support

For the past four days, Oli has been engaging in one-on-one discussions with party leaders to create a favorable environment. About two weeks ago, a party statute convention allowed him the possibility of a third term as chairman. However, the recent political developments in the country have made remaining chairman more challenging. Many UML leaders are aware of the situation but are hesitant to actively pursue party leadership themselves.

Oli has meticulously scheduled meetings with party officials to convey that he has no alternative but to remain chairman. He has already met Vice Chairman Poudel and Deputy General Secretary Prithvi Subba Gurung at his residence in Gundu. Senior Vice Chairman Ishwar Pokhrel visited him on Sunday, suggesting a leadership meeting due to unfavorable internal and external circumstances. However, Oli reportedly declined to call a full executive meeting before Dashain.

He has told close aides that a leadership meeting will take place after Dashain, hinting at opposition forming within the party. Meanwhile, senior leaders including Pokhrel, Vice Chairmen Yubaraj Gyawali and Surendra Pandey, Secretaries Gokarna Vist and Yogesh Bhattarai, and Standing Committee member Arun Nepal advocate for leadership change, with some actively debating the issue on social media.

Several other vice chairpersons—Ashtalakshmi Shakya, Poudel, Rambahadur Thapa, and Guru Baral—as well as Deputy General Secretary Gurung, and Secretaries Lekhraj Bhatt, Chhabilal Bishwakarma, Raghubir Mahaseth, and Padma Aryal, have not publicly expressed views on leadership change. General Secretary Pokhrel, Deputy General Secretary Gyawali, and Standing Committee member Mahesh Basnet have indicated that a leadership change is currently not feasible, though Pokhrel and Gyawali reportedly tried to caution Oli during one-on-one meetings that circumstances might require reconsideration.

Gen-z Movement Fallout

During the Gen-z movement on 23–24 Bhadra, 73 people died and over 400 were injured in protests against poor governance and social media restrictions. The unrest also resulted in the destruction of public and private properties, including Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court, and the Federal Parliament building. Following these events, Oli resigned as Prime Minister and temporarily stayed under army protection along with his cabinet and senior political figures.

On Tuesday, Oli addressed young party workers at his Gundu residence, stressing the importance of building Nepal as a country of honest and diligent citizens. He blamed infiltrators for the destruction rather than ordinary citizens, saying:

“This country is ours, and we must rebuild it. Those who love the nation and history would not have set Singha Durbar on fire. This was a planned act by elements who had long threatened such action. We need to understand this.”

Pressure from CPN-Maoist Centre

CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal recently proposed a four-point plan emphasizing party restructuring and youth representation. Dahal suggested dissolving the central committee and organizing a special convention to restructure the party with broader inclusion of women, Dalits, and youth, along with the direct election of all office bearers, including the chairman. Following this proposal, some UML leaders are pressuring Oli to consider party restructuring.

An UML official said:

“After Dahal’s announcement to submit proposals to the central committee within a week and form a special convention organizing committee, our chairman is under pressure as well.”

This move places Oli in a delicate position, balancing internal dissent, party statutes allowing a third term, and broader political dynamics in Nepal.