UML’s National Congress: Closed-door session begins after a delay of five hours

Sauraha: The closed session has begun at the tenth National Congress of the Communist Party of Nepal – Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) on Saturday afternoon.

The closed session slated to begin at 10 am today was delayed by over five hours as leaders were busy in attempts to hammer out a consensus on new leadership. Responding to journalists before attending the closed session, UML Chairman KP Oli said that they are near a consensus to select the new leadership unanimously.

The representatives were allowed to enter the hall of the closed session only after the health screening. The party has mobilized health workers including doctors in Hotel Seven Star where the party is convening its closed-door session.

The UML has decided to increase the size of its Central Committee. The last meeting of the incumbent Central Committee held in Sauraha decided to increase the number of office-bearers including the central members. The UML has stated that the number of members and office bearers has been increased for unanimous leadership.

[Related: UML’s National Congress: Oli creates an impressive cult of personality. But is the party as unified as its leaders claim?]

The size of the 225-member central committee has been increased to 301 members and it has been decided to form a 99-member politburo.

The forty-five-member Standing Committee will remain unchanged. The number of office bearers has been increased as per the proposal of party Chair KP Sharma Oli. Hence, the total number of office bearers has reached 19.

Similarly, the Secretariat will have 19 members. Earlier, it was a secretariat with five office-bearers.

As per the decision of the meeting, there will be a 301-member Advisory Council. Chairman KP Sharma Oli’s proposal for party unity has been unanimously passed by the Central Committee meeting. The statute amendment proposal will be tabled in the closed session.

The 10th National Congress of the party commenced in Chitwan on Friday. Party Chair Oli inaugurated the National Congress on the bank of the Narayani River at Narayangadh.