CPN-UML Headquarters
KATHMANDU: It has been over five months since the CPN-UML took disciplinary action against its three leaders for acting against the party’s interests.
Former Vice-Chairperson Bhim Rawal was expelled from the party, while Standing Committee member Binda Pandey and Central Committee member Usha Kiran Timilsina were suspended for six months. Rawal has since announced a new political campaign, while the other two have remained inactive and without roles within the party.
Since the decision was taken by the party’s Secretariat, leaders say only the Secretariat meeting can lift or extend the suspension.
Party insiders say the six-month suspension period of the two leaders will be completed next week. Although they were formally suspended in the last week of November, disciplinary actions against them were initiated by issuing a clarification notice in the third week of October. Yet, the UML has not taken any steps toward reinstating them.
Despite the suspension, both Binda and Usha have remained firm in their commitment to the party, stating they will not leave UML or join another party. This has sparked interest in how the party will handle their cases moving forward. The two were penalized for making public statements against the party’s decision to accept a land donation from businessman Min Bahadur Gurung to construct the party’s new central office building.
The two leaders claim that their suspension period is over. “Six months have passed—what difference do a few extra days make?” Binda wrote in a recent social media post. While she didn’t name the UML in her post, its intent was unmistakably aimed at the party. Usha, too, insists that their suspension period has expired. Still, the UML leadership has made no official announcement regarding their status.
UML leaders are unsure of what will happen next. The Secretariat decision cited Section 80 (3) of the party’s constitution, under which Binda and Usha were accused of breaching party discipline. They were then served clarification notices under Section 81. Both responded to the notice, maintaining their original stance.
Strangely, none of the three leaders received formal written notice of the disciplinary action taken against them. “I only heard about my suspension through the media. I was never given an official letter,” said Usha.
UML Leadership Silent
While Binda and Usha argue that the suspension period is now over, the UML leadership has maintained silence on the issue. One reason is that the Secretariat has not convened. Party Spokesperson Rajendra Gautam says there are currently no plans to call such a meeting. “I don’t see a meeting happening anytime soon. I have no information about it,” he told Himal Press.
Although the two leaders are repeatedly stating that their suspension period has ended, the party has not responded. UML Spokesperson Gautam says the party’s disciplinary commission will assess their actions during the suspension period before making any recommendations. “The commission will first evaluate whether they violated party discipline during these six months. Only then will the secretariat make a decision,” he explained.
The commission, however, says it will only act once a formal complaint is submitted. “We will act only if there is a formal complaint. So far, no such complaint has been filed against the two,” said Keshav Badal, head of the UML’s Disciplinary Commission. “Once a complaint is submitted, we write to the relevant committee for an investigation. We step in only if someone challenges that committee’s decision.”
Badal indicated that since no complaints have been filed, the possibility of reinstatement is open.
Senior Vice-chairperson Ishwar Pokharel said he has no knowledge of the case. “You will have to ask the General Secretary (Shankar Pokharel),” he said.
Suspended Leaders Firm On Their Stance
UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli laid the foundation stone for a new office building on the land donated by Gurung on October 11. On the same day, Binda and Usha expressed dissatisfaction with the party decision on social media. They continue to stand by their criticism of the decision.
“For the party to self-correct, it must be willing to step back,” said Usha. “The right to build the party should lie with the grassroots members, not just the leadership.”
Stating that Gurung has been convicted of evading Rs 4.36 billion in taxes, she said the party should not accept donations from such individuals.
