Kathmandu, Nepal, December 19, 2025 – Following the 11th General Convention of the CPN-UML, which re-elected KP Sharma Oli as Party Chairman for a third consecutive term, the veteran leader has signaled a shift toward a more aggressive political path. Oli secured a landslide victory, with nearly all candidates aligned with his camp winning their respective seats.
A Decisive Mandate
In the leadership race, Oli secured 1,663 votes, convincingly defeating his challenger, Ishwar Pokharel, who received 564 votes. Beyond the chairmanship, the "Oli Panel" swept the leadership positions, winning 17 out of 19 office-bearer seats. This includes the re-election of Shankar Pokharel as General Secretary, who defeated rival candidate Surendra Pandey. Furthermore, the Oli panel secured an overwhelming majority within the party's Central Committee.
Defiance and Directives
During the closing ceremony on Thursday, Oli employed defiant language against those who opposed him and his party, particularly the incumbent interim government formed in the wake of the Gen Z movement.
Addressing the crowd at Bhrikutimandap following his oath-taking ceremony, Oli lashed out at the Sushila Karki-led government and the youth-led movement that ousted him from power in September. He ordered the party to establish a "defense force" to counter what he termed "conspiracies" and "fake legal cases" targeting party leadership following the unrest of September 8–9.
“There are rumors of physical attacks and attempts to frame UML leaders with fraudulent charges,” Oli declared, adding: “The day anyone lays a hand on this leadership, the entire country must be brought to a standstill.”
During the program, he also demanded the reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives, arguing for a return to the previous constitutional order rather than proceeding with the elections scheduled by the interim administration.
