CPN-UML Internal Report Criticizes KP Sharma Oli's Leadership and Policies

Kathmandu. CPN (UML) General Secretary Shankar Pokharel's report, prepared to assess the party's situation and future path after the unexpected setback in the recent elections, has been rejected by Vice Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal at Oli's behest. The report, prepared by the election review and party reorganization task force, was based on suggestions collected from all seven provinces, the Valley, people's organizations, departments, and diaspora committees. However, as the report was not favorable to him, Oli had the task force convenor Badal himself prepare a new report. This new report has rejected Pokharel's report and made it favorable to Oli. Amidst the uproar within the party over the new report, Ratopati has also obtained documents detailing the suggestions given by the provinces. The document mentions that the provinces emphasized the need for a 'graceful exit' of the leadership. This document states that the main root of UML's defeat is the party chairman KP Sharma Oli's working style, decision-making process, and 'lust for power'. The document clearly suggests that the provinces and subordinate committees, realizing that superficial reforms would not save the party's reputation, should even opt for the path of the leadership's honorable exit (graceful exit). Bagmati, Lumbini, Karnali, and the Central Advisory Council have pointed out that the top leadership should take moral responsibility for the electoral defeat instead of blaming the lower levels. The subordinate committees have concluded that UML has deviated from public expectations due to the 'Oli-fication', sycophancy, and 'arrogance' of the leadership that has spread within the party. Lumbini and Karnali provinces have formally recorded their opinion that Chairman Oli should resign, prioritizing the party's future over personal gain, and take on a parental role, handing over leadership to the second and third generations. The report most emphasizes the reinstatement of the 70-year age limit and the two-term provision, which were removed from the statute. All provinces from Koshi to Sudurpaschim have described the removal of the 70-year age limit through statute amendment as a 'major mistake' in the party's life. Stating that this has closed the door for youth in the party, increased the deification of leadership, and caused extreme frustration among cadres, most committees have demanded the immediate reinstatement of the two-term and 70-year age limit in the statute. The lower levels have also raised serious questions about the party leadership's attitude towards the youth (Gen Z) movement that developed in the background of the elections on August 23 and 24. Bagmati and Lumbini have concluded that by not expressing sympathy in time even when youth lost their lives in the movement, and by labeling the incident merely as 'counter-revolution' or 'foreign conspiracy', UML has been established in society as an 'arrogant and insensitive' party. The report admits that due to not understanding the psychology of the youth, ignoring the power of social media, and unnecessarily attacking Kathmandu's then-Mayor Balen Shah, traditional voters, cadres, and their families of UML ended up voting for the 'bell' (RSP). The provinces have also strongly expressed their views on UML's 'double standards' and 'lust for power' in matters of government and power equations. The lower levels believe that repeated unprincipled alliances with the Nepali Congress and the then Maoists have proven suicidal, and UML has been portrayed as a 'party that cannot survive without power'. The report includes the conclusion that announcing a candidate for future prime minister five years in advance was a wrong strategy, and that the party alienated the basic working class by failing to fulfill even the minimum demands of teachers, sugarcane farmers, milk farmers, and landless people while in government. The task force's report also addresses the issue of the party's reputation being tarnished by hobnobbing with controversial businessmen and financial opacity. The Central Advisory Council and diaspora committees have accused UML of becoming a 'party of the wealthy' by directly bringing businessman Durga Prasai into the central committee, openly accepting land and donations for the party office from controversial businessman Min Bahadur Gurung, and operating projects like 'Oli Kuti'. The advisors have put forward strong demands to immediately scrap 'Oli Kuti', build the party office in Balkhu, and investigate the assets of all leaders who have held positions of profit since 2048 BS. Complaints have come from across the country that dedicated and honest cadres who have sacrificed for a long time have been sidelined due to nepotism ('neppo baby'), sycophancy, and financial dealings in the candidate selection process. Opposing the trend of making incumbent representatives resign and then making them candidates for another level, and imposing tickets from the center by disregarding the recommendations of the local areas, it has been suggested that candidates should now be selected only through internal elections (primaries). Similarly, the provinces, deeming UML's organizational structure as 'clumsy and bureaucratic', have demanded a reduction in the 300-member central committee to a maximum of 151 members or a 50 percent cut. The report concludes that 50 percent participation of youth under 40 should be ensured in the committees and a 'special general convention' should be called immediately to find a way out of the current crisis, leading to a comprehensive restructuring of policy, ideology, and leadership.