Vice President Vishnu Poudel Tells KP Oli: ‘The Party Cannot Run Under Your Leadership’

UML Vice President Vishnu Poudel has proposed that Chairman KP Sharma Oli step down, criticizing the removal of the age limit of 70 years and the two-term provision as a mistake. Poudel, along with three other vice presidents, expressed doubts about the party’s future under Oli’s leadership, highlighting growing frustration among party cadres. Following Oli’s threat to punish those who oppose the party line, Vice President Prithvi Subba Gurung questioned whether the party had become Oli’s private company. This development occurred on 8 Jestha in Kathmandu.

After the Janajati movement led to his ousting from power, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, following a humiliating election defeat, now faces a crisis within his own party. Leaders who once helped secure his election in the last general convention have now concluded that the party cannot progress under his leadership and are pushing for him to relinquish his position. This formal proposal surfaced during a party meeting. On Friday, during a secretariat meeting, Vice President Vishnu Poudel labeled the removal of the 70-year age limit and two-term provision as a mistake and formally proposed clearing the path forward by stepping down.

Vice President Poudel argued that given the current situation, Oli is unable to lead the party effectively and thus should step aside. After the party’s disgraceful election loss, Poudel, who has now publicly taken this stance, submitted the formal proposal during the secretariat meeting. Four vice presidents have now united behind the call for leadership change. As the second most senior vice president, Poudel’s formal call for change has clearly split the UML into two factions.

Poudel, Prithvi Subba Gurung, Raghuji Pant, and Gokarna Bista shared the view that “there is no prospect of the party advancing under your leadership, and there is extreme disappointment among the grassroots workers.” As they voiced their preference for an alternative to Oli, only Vice President Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal contested the proposal. Thapa asserted that the party is going through a crisis and that defending the leadership at this time is a duty. In response to the other vice presidents’ questioning of the leadership, Oli stated that Thapa’s stance reflected the official party line.

When Chairman Oli accused some members of creating chaos, Vice President Prithvi Subba Gurung pushed back, stating, “There was a heated exchange in today’s meeting. Towards the end, the chairman used quite harsh language. In response, I said, is this party your private company? Are you unable to speak respectfully with your colleagues?” During the meeting, Vice President Poudel emphasized the need for reviewing the causes of the party’s defeat and stated that the leadership must take responsibility.

Poudel said, “You must take responsibility for the failure and pave the way forward. When the age limit of 70 and two-term provision were initially raised as democratizing party life, we supported and endorsed it. But later, you removed those provisions, and we accepted that decision. Now we realize that acceptance was a mistake. The 70-year age limit and two-term provisions must be maintained going forward.” Following the clear division between those who wish to retain or remove Oli, the chairman sarcastically remarked that Poudel led the faction calling for his removal, while Ram Bahadur Thapa led the opposing one.