LUMBINI: Although Padma Aryal, the Lumbini province in-charge of CPN-UML, recently ruled out any factionalism within CPN-UML, two factions are vying for leadership in the upcoming general convention of the party’s Lumbini Province Committee.
UML leaders and cadres say factions aligned with Vice Chairman Bishu Poudel and General Secretary Shankar Pokharel are making internal preparations for the convention.
The activities and lobbying of the aspirants for the province committee chairs clearly show factionalism within the party.
Since both Pokharel and Poudel rose through the party ranks from Lumbini Province, it is natural for them to want to see their close associates holding the reins of the province committee. That is why they have mobilized leaders loyal to them at the ward levels to solicit votes in favor of their candidates.
The incumbent province committee chair, Radha Krishna Kandel of Palpa, and former provincial minister, Hari Prasad Rijal of Pyuthan, have announced their candidacy for the post of chairman in the general convention to be held in Butwal on September 2-3. While Kandel is close to Vice Chairman Poudel, Rijal is a close aide of General Secretary Pokharel.
Although the party leadership has directed leaders to select new leadership unanimously as far as possible, aspirants for the post of chairman are holding meetings of their factions separately to secure votes. Rijal organized a gathering of central committee members, district chairmen, and members of district and provincial committees in Butwal on Tuesday.
However, he denounced claims that it was a meeting of his faction. “Since I have decided to contest the election for province chair, I organized the gathering to gauge the reaction of fellow comrades,” he maintained.
Kandel, who is chairing the ad-hoc province committee, said he was a natural contender for the post of province committee chair. “I have been working for the party since the 1980s, consistently upholding the party’s policy doctrine,” he added. “I am not in favor of factionalism. I believe I will win the election easily based on my work performance.”
He was certain to be elected unanimously had Rijal not announced his candidacy.
Kandel, too, organized a gathering for party leaders and cadres loyal to him. However, he maintained that he hadn’t organized any gathering of his faction. “I challenge you to prove if I have ever held such a faction gathering,” he added.
In the past, there has been an internal struggle between Vice President Poudel and General Secretary Pokharel in the province. The struggle hit the prime while selecting provincial capital for Lumbini.
A central committee member of the UML told Himal Press that both leaders are leaving no stone unturned to maintain their supremacy this time.
Central committee members close to General Secretary Pokharel – Balram Adhikari, Chet Narayan Acharya, Shiva Raj Subedi, Bhumishwar Dhakal, Narayan Prasad Acharya of Palpa, and Than Prasad Gaire of Nawalparasi – are in favor of Rijal. Dhakal has succeeded in creating a faction in the district committee of Rupandehi, which is the home district of Vice Chairman Poudel.
On the other hand, Politburo member Lila Giri, Khim Lal Bhattarai, Dadhiram Sharma Neupane, and province assembly member Bhoj Prasad Shrestha, among others, are supporting Kandel’s candidacy.
Giri was a minister in the Pokharel-led Lumbini Province Government. Party leaders claim that Giri supported Pokharel when disputes arose within the party while selecting the capital for Lumbini Province. However, this time, Giri is campaigning against Pokharel’s candidate.
Many party leaders and cadres see the convention as a test of power between Vice President Poudel and General Secretary Pokharel.
UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli is set to inaugurate the convention at the Butwal International Convention Center on Saturday. The convention will elect a 205-member province committee.
The incumbent ad-hoc committee declared by the party’s central leadership has 601 members. The convention will elect five members from each of the 12 districts, five members from each of the 26 federal constituencies, and 15 members, including five office-bearers, through an open contest.
A total of 919 representatives, including 20% women, 20% youth, and 15% from the Dalit community, will cast their votes in the convention.
