Himal Press 
KP Sharma Oli
KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli has acknowledged that he and his party failed to secure the results they had expected in the recent election.
“I could not achieve the results I had expected. Our party also failed to bring the anticipated outcome. In a democracy, the final verdict rests with the people, and it is the duty of both my party and me to accept that verdict,” Oli said. “I accept the people’s mandate with full respect.”
Oli’s first public message since the March 5 elections suggests the former Prime Minister is in no mood to accept blame for the party’s poor electoral performance and step down from the party’s leadership. The party’s electoral performance was so poor that none of the 11 members of the party’s Secretariat, including three Vice Chairpersons and the General Secretary, managed to win the election.
Earlier, he congratulated Balendra Shah of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who handed Oli a heavy defeat in his Jhapa-5 stronghold, through a social media post.
Oli also thanked voters, leaders, cadres, volunteers, well-wishers, and supporters who stood by the party by casting their votes for the party’s ‘Sun’ symbol. He said their trust is the party’s strength and their support its source of power.
Although the election results did not come in the party’s favor, Oli said the party’s commitment and spirit of service toward the people remain undiminished.
“We will remain among the people, continue working for them, and move forward by further strengthening this bond of trust,” he said.
