Kathmandu, August 17: The debate over leadership transfer and generational transition within the UML has intensified. After the younger generation within the party began calling for its reorganization along new lines, a war of words has begun between party Chairman K.P. Sharma Oli and the young leaders. Chairman Oli has described those demanding a change in leadership as anarchists and “vagabonds” and warned them to leave the party, while dissatisfied young leaders have hit back at his remarks. This has further stirred the internal politics of the UML.
Addressing separate programmes held in Birtamod of Jhapa and Ilam on Sunday, Chairman Oli expressed strong dissatisfaction with activities taking place within the party. At the “Mission Jagaran” programme in Jhapa, he warned against attempting to change the leadership by posting statements on social media or launching signature campaigns. He suggested that if party members felt the leadership needed to be changed, they should raise the matter through the concerned party committee in accordance with established procedures. Chairman Oli warned the dissatisfied faction that if they wanted to remain in the party, they must abide by discipline, and if they could not do so, they should choose their own path.
Similarly, addressing the central committee meeting of the Democratic Indigenous Nationalities Federation held in Ilam, Chairman Oli said the discussions and signature campaigns taking place outside the party calling for the removal of the leadership elected by the general convention represented the height of anarchy. He said the party had its own rules, procedures and timetable, and remarked that discussing a change in leadership over tea chats and canteen meetings was ridiculous. “Talking about removing the party chairman while sitting in the party office canteen, drinking tea and eating samosas, is a serious matter.
“Going around collecting signatures arbitrarily for the removal of the chairman is against the party’s rules, statute and procedures,” he said. He said that while opponents were mounting intense attacks, engaging in internal conflict instead of keeping the entire party united would be suicidal. Clarifying that the party would be taken forward with firm discipline after the upcoming central committee meeting, he instructed party members to stop defaming the party through social media.
Young UML leaders have become angry after Chairman Oli used strong language targeting those advocating a debate on leadership reorganization. In particular, former ANNFSU leaders have launched a sarcastic campaign on social media and through the media, saying, “I am a vagabond.” In this context, young leader Navina Lama has strongly hit back at Chairman Oli’s remarks. She said it was extremely unfortunate to label as “vagabonds” an ideological debate being conducted to build the party and protect its history.
Leader Lama said, “Is it right to call someone a son or daughter when you like them and a vagabond when you do not? We address him as ‘KP Ba’ and respect him as the chairman. But just because we say things he does not like, it does not justify using the word ‘vagabond’.” She made it clear that they were not involved in any anarchic activities, hooliganism or extortion, arguing that they had merely raised a legitimate issue: that the party should move forward in a new way. Saying that they had been involved with the party since birth and had also shed their blood, sweat and tears for it, she made it clear that they would not leave the party simply because someone told them to do so.
The dissatisfied faction has concluded that Chairman Oli’s leadership has already failed and is demanding that leadership be handed over to the younger generation in a dignified manner. They argue that there is now no alternative to a change in leadership, pointing to the fact that voters pushed the CPN-UML behind in the elections and that some leaders suffered defeat because of Chairman Oli. “A 35-year-old person has become the prime minister of the country, while people from outside politics have entered Parliament. It is in such a situation that we have also raised the issue of generational transition,” Leader Lama said. They argue that a party built by thousands of cadres cannot be anyone’s private property.
People’s News Monitoring Service.
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