KATHMANDU, Dec 18: The 11th General Convention of the CPN-UML has ended as chairman KP Sharma Oli and most of his close allies have once again taken key positions in the party. However, two prominent members of Oli’s faction—his close confidant and political adviser Bishnu Prasad Rimal and vice-chairman contender Guru Baral—were defeated. They were the only candidates from Oli’s panel to lose in the party’s top leadership elections of 19 members.
Rimal, who is considered one of Oli’s most trusted aides, came fourth in the race for deputy general secretary. He received 1,091 votes. His rivals, Lekhraj Bhatt (1,452 votes), Raghubir Mahaseth (1,368 votes) and Yogesh Bhattarai (1,348 votes) all won the position. Bhatt, a former Maoist leader, is now seen as a strong figure in the CPN-UML. Yogesh Bhattarai, from the Ishwar Pokhrel panel, replaced Rimal in the deputy general secretary post.
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Guru Baral, who contested for the vice-chairman position, was also defeated. He received 1,137 votes. Baral lost to Gokarna Raj Bista of the Pokhrel faction. These defeats are the only setbacks for Oli’s faction, which otherwise won most of the leadership positions.
Bishnu Prasad Rimal is known for staying away from regional power politics. He served as Oli’s chief political adviser during Oli’s three terms as prime minister. In the 10th General Convention, Rimal was elected deputy general secretary unopposed. His loss this time, along with Baral’s, is rare in an election that otherwise favored Oli’s faction.
Rimal who was defeated in the race for deputy general secretary, has also been defeated in the race for a central committee member seat.
Rimal, who contested both the deputy general secretary and central committee positions in the party’s 11th General Convention, lost in both elections.
Rimal is considered one of KP Sharma Oli’s most trusted aides and has long been a key member of Oli’s inner team.
