KATHMANDU, Dec 19: The CPN-UML has elected a new leadership team following elections held at its 11th General Convention in Kathmandu, a gathering that was marked by rare internal competition and high political stakes.
For the first time in years, the party’s top leadership was contested through clearly defined panels, with KP Sharma Oli and Ishwar Pokhrel leading rival camps in the race for the chair. The contest injected fresh energy into the convention, drawing sustained attention from party cadres and observers alike.
When the final results were announced, the balance of power was unmistakable. The overwhelming majority of the newly elected office bearers emerged from the panel led by Oli, reaffirming his firm grip over the party’s organisational structure. With the exception of Yogesh Bhattarai, elected as deputy general secretary and Gokarna Bista, elected as vice-chair, all other office bearers hail from Oli’s camp.
Chairman Oli announces names of UML's office-bearers, Ishwor Po...
The results were even more decisive at the level of secretaries, where every elected candidate belonged to the Oli panel, underscoring the consolidation of leadership around the incumbent chair.
Beyond factional calculations, this convention also signalled a generational shift within the party. Eight leaders have made their debut in the UML’s office bearers’ team. Among them is Raghuji Pant, who was elected vice-chair and has entered the party’s top leadership for the first time.
A similar transition is visible among the secretaries, with seven new faces stepping into senior organisational roles. Bhanubhakta Dhakal, Khag Raj Adhikari, Yamlal Kandel, Rajan Bhattarai, Sherdhan Rai, Hikmat Karki and Mahesh Basnet have all joined the office bearers’ team for the first time, marking an expansion of leadership beyond familiar names.
As the convention draws to a close, the newly formed team reflects both continuity and change—continuity in Oli’s dominance of the party structure, and change in the inclusion of fresh leaders expected to shape the UML’s direction in the years ahead.
