- Krishnagopal Shrestha challenged Chairman KP Sharma Oli for conducting the CPN-UML meeting himself, demanding adherence to established party rules and procedures.
- Shrestha boycotted the meeting and accused Oli of humiliating behavior after being told to sit down during his protest over organizational roles.
- Chairman Oli presented a political report defending his leadership, arguing that moral responsibility does not necessitate leaving the party leaderless during crises.
Lalitpur, Nepal: CPN-UML leader Krishnagopal Shrestha openly challenged party chairman KP Sharma Oli during the Central Committee meeting in Bhanimandal, Lalitpur, on Monday.
The disagreement began when Oli started conducting the meeting himself. Shrestha objected, saying the general secretary should handle the proceedings according to the party’s established practice.
“This is the responsibility of the general secretary. You cannot conduct the meeting yourself. We must follow the rules and procedures,” Shrestha told Oli.
Oli asked him to sit down.
“Please sit down. You cannot speak right now,” Oli said.
Shrestha continued to object.
“Who are you to stop me? I have contributed equally to this party. Is the party yours alone? Can a party be run this way?” he asked.
The exchange made the meeting tense. Volunteers moved toward Shrestha, and an argument followed. Journalists covering the meeting were then asked to leave the hall.
Shrestha later walked out of the meeting and told reporters:
“I boycotted the meeting.”
‘I protested when things went too far’
Speaking to journalists afterward, Shrestha said he had remained silent for a long time but decided to protest over what happened during the meeting.
“I witnessed a situation today that I have never seen in any party under a multiparty system. This was unimaginable behavior. I protested when things went too far,” he said.
Shrestha said Oli had handled several parts of the meeting himself.
“He himself offered the tribute, he himself conducted the program, and he himself brought the agenda. My patience finally ran out, and I protested,” he said.
He also complained that Oli did not ask him to sit down despite standing for a long time.
“My chairman did not have even a little compassion or affection for me. I stood there for so long, yet he did not ask me to sit down. He showed no humanity,” Shrestha said.
He also referred to his long political association with Oli.
“I can say that I devoted my entire life in the name of Oli. But everyone has seen how much humiliation I have had to endure from him,” he said.
Shrestha’s earlier support for Oli
Shrestha was previously a prominent supporter of Oli, particularly during the political disputes surrounding Oli’s leadership around five years ago.
In 2021, while serving as education minister, Shrestha publicly defended Oli against efforts to remove him as prime minister.
“Is there anyone who has the courage to remove KP Oli?” he had asked.
He also compared Oli to Brazilian football legend Pele.
“KP Oli is KP Oli. KP Oli is like Pele in football,” Shrestha said at the time.
Shrestha later served as a minister during Oli’s tenure as prime minister and was regarded as one of the leaders close to him.
Oli’s report on leadership and party change
The dispute took place on the same day Oli presented his political report to the Central Committee.
The report discussed party leadership, organizational change and the role of younger leaders.
Oli said younger leaders should be given greater responsibility while stressing that the party should retain its history and experience.
He also questioned calls for changes in the party leadership.
“What is reorganization? Under what circumstances does it take place? Can attempts to remove the leadership be called reorganization?” Oli asked.
Oli said the party should review its electoral performance but argued that accepting responsibility did not mean leaving the organization without leadership during a difficult period.
“Accepting moral responsibility does not mean leaving the organization leaderless in the middle of a crisis,” he said.
