Kathmandu — The ongoing Central Committee meeting of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) — CPN-UML — has turned into a platform for open discussion on leadership and internal accountability. Several leaders have suggested that, just as Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba recently stepped down from his party leadership, UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli should also engage in self-reflection.
Central Committee member Rabin Koirala, representing Jhapa district, described Deuba’s decision as a “positive democratic example.” He said, “We had expected a more mature and self-critical address from our chairman, but that did not happen.”
Koirala added that the aftermath of the GenZ movement has raised serious questions about the state of governance in the country, yet the UML leadership has not shown a sufficient sense of responsibility. “Even amid growing public frustration, we have not demonstrated the courage to acknowledge our mistakes,” he remarked.
Welcoming the party’s decision to set the date for its upcoming convention, Koirala urged Oli to play a guardian-like role and hand over leadership to a new generation. “The election cannot be avoided, but we must go forward with a clear agenda — constitutional amendment, good governance, and a strong anti-corruption stance,” he emphasized.
Chairman KP Sharma Oli, meanwhile, reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening party unity, noting that the renewal of former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s party membership would mark the beginning of that process.
Other leaders in attendance also called for the institutionalization of a culture of self-evaluation and transparency within the party to build long-term public trust.
