KATHMANDU — A total of 36 delegates were absent during voting to elect the new leadership of Nepal’s Communist Party of Nepal–Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML). Former central committee member Basanta Nembang did not participate in the vote due to health reasons, while other delegates were absent for various personal and political causes.
Mukunda Neupane, who rejoined the UML after leaving the then CPN (Unified Socialist), was also absent from the voting process. Following his return to the UML, the party amended its statute in Jestha 2080 (May–June 2023) to assign Neupane a leadership role. He was subsequently appointed as a member of the party’s Standing Committee.
Voting began on Wednesday. Asked why he did not participate, Neupane said he was currently in Hetauda. Neupane Criticizes KP Oli’s Leadership and Party Decisions Neupane expressed dissatisfaction with party chair KP Sharma Oli, alleging that decisions made during the party’s statute convention in Godavari were reversed and reshaped to suit Oli’s preferences.
“We had insisted that decisions made by the Statute Convention should not be altered. But those decisions were not implemented,” Neupane said. “Chairman Oli says one thing three months ago and something else three months later.
There was a provision for a 70-year age limit and a two-term cap—both were scrapped. Can someone with no consistency in their words be trusted? Can anyone seriously imagine the country being built under such leadership?” Neupane said his dissatisfaction led him to abstain from the voting process.
“I had already left the party saying I would not stay in a party led by KP Oli,” he said. “Morality must come first. One must evaluate whether the party leadership’s policies are right and whether leaders stand by their words. Here, even written decisions have not been implemented.” He further said that the party’s actions contradict commitments made to the public.
“They publish books and distribute them among the people in the name of democratizing People’s Multiparty Democracy (Jabaj), but none of the promises made to the people are implemented,” he said.
“The 70-year age limit and the two-term provision were meant to remain intact, while only the number was to be reduced. Instead, those provisions were reversed. Does that mean only what benefits certain individuals is retained?”
Neupane said the lack of ethical leadership is not confined to the UML but is a problem affecting all major political parties in Nepal. “In 34 years, there have been 32 changes of government,” he said. “According to the Constitution, it should take 160 years for 32 governments to change.”
He added that he has repeatedly questioned what he considers wrong steps taken by the party leadership, but his concerns have not been addressed. Neupane said his relationship with Oli has been strained since before the most recent general election.
“I advised against forming an alliance with the Nepali Congress. It has been about 18 months since my relationship with him deteriorated,” he said. Neupane did not give a definitive answer when asked whether he would remain active within the party in the future.
