KATHMANDU — CPN (UML) Central Committee member Usha Kiran Timalsina has called for a leadership transition within the party, urging Chair KP Sharma Oli to “assume the role of a guardian” and pave the way for organizational renewal. Speaking at the Central Committee meeting that began on Friday, Timalsina said the current structure cannot lead either an election or a movement.
“This structure can neither win an election nor sustain a movement. A new era demands new leadership,” she said. She argued that the main political task before Nepal is the reorganization of major parties, and the UML must take the lead.
“The Nepali Congress has already begun its restructuring. If the Chair steps aside, it will send a positive message across the country,” she added. She criticized claims of success amid visible failures. “When failure is obvious, declaring success only deepens decline,” she remarked.
Calls for Accountability After GenZ Movement and Appeal for Responsible Politics
Referring to the GenZ movement of September 8–9 (Bhadra 23–24), Timalsina called the incidents a “national and party nightmare.” “Twenty-four people lost their lives and property worth billions was destroyed — who will take moral responsibility?” she asked, urging accountability from political, administrative, and security leadership.
Timalsina said the UML must restore public trust through bold and responsible decisions. “It is unfair to block an organization’s future for one person’s ambition. A party with a long and proud history cannot be reactionary,” she stated.
She added that the question of whether the UML would “perish or reform” after the 2022 election has become even more urgent. “The debate is no longer about restoring parliament but about preparing for fresh elections,” she said.
She urged the party to acknowledge past errors that eroded public trust. “Were all those who contested under the sun symbol aligned with our values, or were opportunists welcomed in the name of expansion?” she asked.
She also called for returning the controversial land donation from businessman Min Bahadur Gurung, saying “Returning that contribution would restore our moral integrity.” Reflecting on Oli’s 11 years as party chair, Timalsina asked whether that period had strengthened or weakened the leftist movement.
“Where have we arrived in these 11 years? Party unification was a milestone, but it ended in disillusionment. Citizens began losing faith then — we must admit it,” she said.
Concluding her remarks, she warned “If we still fail to recognize the lessons before us, history will condemn not only the UML but the entire leftist movement.”
