Kathmandu, 29 Dec: After expressing doubts for a long time about the House of Representatives election scheduled for Falgun 21 (5 March 2026 ), the CPN-UML has finally entered the electoral race.
A Secretariat meeting held today at the party’s central headquarters in Chyasal discussed the names to be included in the closed list under the proportional representation system, and instructed that the names of aspirants for direct elections be recommended by Poush 20.
“Decision has been taken to instruct the recommendation of names for direct elections through constituency committees by Poush 20,” party Secretary Rajan Bhattarai said. UML has also finalized the names to be submitted to the Election Commission for the proportional category on Tuesday.
According to Deputy General Secretary Lekhraj Bhatta, party Chair KP Sharma Oli has approved the names to be placed on the proportional closed list.
“If the Chair deems necessary, some corrections will be made before submitting the list to the Election Commission,” Bhatta told journalists after the meeting. He added that some suggestions made on Oli’s proposal were also endorsed.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Secretary Mahesh Basnet said that while others may not have prepared for the election, UML has already organized many aspects.
“Friends keep talking about elections, but it doesn’t seem they have prepared for any. Even while saying we were not going for elections, we have strengthened our organization and relationship with the people,” Basnet said.
He emphasized that as a democratic party, UML cannot oppose elections.
“We accept elections. We also accept challenges and competition,” he said.
According to meeting sources, Oli has prepared a list of 110 names to be submitted under the proportional representation system. Guru Baral has been placed at number one in the Khas Arya category.
Demand for Revision of the List
There has been internal demand within the party to revise the list proposed by Chair Oli.
“The names of Gorakh Bahadur Bogati, Khem Suvedi, and Pushpa Kandel have been placed with priority given to Guru Baral,” a meeting source said, adding that other office bearers suggested revisions after such a proposal was presented.
According to the source, Vice Chairs Prithvi Subba Gurung, Gokarna Bista, and Raghuji Pant; Deputy General Secretaries Yogesh Bhattarai, Lekhraj Bhatta, and Raghubir Mahaseth; and Secretary Yam Lal Kandel submitted names from their respective sides.
Vice Chair Bista and Deputy General Secretary Bhattarai insisted that the proportional closed list should be prepared based on clear criteria.
“When we move forward based on criteria, the party becomes united and aspirants can be managed. Even those who don’t get opportunities will be satisfied by looking at the criteria,” Bhattarai said. “Without criteria, some will keep getting opportunities while others will get none.”
He argued that Guru Baral’s proposal was also not based on any criteria.
“If the same person keeps being nominated to different roles repeatedly and continues to receive priority, it does not send a good message,” Bhattarai said.
After the death of Suvash Nembang, Oli had nominated Baral as Vice Chair. Baral had contested for the same position in the last general convention but was defeated, even failing to secure a seat as a central committee member. Despite this, Baral has been placed first on the proportional closed list.
After Baral—who had also lost while contesting for the National Assembly—was given priority, office bearers requested corrections to the list.
“The names presented by the Chair are not final; please revise and bring them again,” one office bearer said.
According to the source, several leaders who have repeatedly received opportunities have also been included in the proportional list. Party Secretary Padma Aryal has been placed first in the women’s category. Along with Aryal, the names of Niru Pal, Shanta Chaudhary, Tuka Hamal, Bhumika Subba, Gangadevi Shrestha, Manchu Chaudhary, and Komal Oli are included in the women’s proportional list.
All leaders in the proposed list are supporters of Oli. After such a one-sided proposal, Gokarna Bista and Yogesh Bhattarai, who were elected office bearers from a different group during the 11th General Convention, demanded that the list be revised to send a message of party unity.
“They proposed names across almost all clusters. They also suggested that Ishwor Pokhrel should be placed number one in the open category,” the source said. Bista and Bhattarai argued that placing Pokhrel instead of Guru Baral at number one would send a message of unity within the party.
“Please reconsider the list you presented, because UML now needs to be united,” Bhattarai said. “To send a message that UML has emerged united after the general convention, let’s place Ishwor Pokhrel first in the proportional list.”
Bista also argued that the closed list presented at the meeting should be revised to convey the message that winners have accommodated those who lost.
“We must forget wins and losses and build party unity. You (Oli) are in the position to send that message,” Bista said. “People should not be treated differently just because they contested differently in the general convention. Decisions should be made in a way that long-serving comrades are not discouraged.”
With supporting arguments, Bista and Bhattarai suggested including Binda Pandey, Rachana Khadka, Sarmila Karki, and Ushakiran Timsina in the proportional closed list.
“Contesting from a different group is a separate matter, but including the names of Binda Pandey, Rachana Khadka, Sarmila Karki, and Ushakiran will not reduce the party’s votes,” Bhattarai said.
Sources also said there were calls to include Shambhu Thapa, Tikaram Bhattarai, Gauri Pradhan, and Sushil Pyakurel in the closed list. Besides Bista and Bhattarai, other office bearers close to Oli also said the proposed proportional list needs revision.
