In a decisive outcome at the 11th General Convention of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), senior leader KP Sharma Oli has been re-elected as party chairman with a commanding lead over his rival Ishwar Pokhrel. Oli secured 1,663 votes, while Pokhrel received 564 votes from party delegates, reinforcing Oli’s leadership within Nepal’s largest communist party. The internal election, held over several days at the convention, saw robust participation from delegates representing provinces across the country. Oli’s victory marks his third consecutive term as CPN-UML chairman, underscoring strong support from the party’s organizational base.
Alongside Oli’s win, most of the key leadership positions were claimed by candidates aligned with his panel, highlighting a consolidation of power within the party’s central leadership. In the race for general secretary, Oli-backed candidate Shankar Pokhrel defeated his opponent with 1,228 votes against 999, further strengthening the incumbent leadership faction’s hold.
The convention’s results are seen as a significant moment ahead of Nepal’s national elections, setting the stage for CPN-UML’s campaign strategy and internal unity. Supporters of Oli celebrated the strong mandate as a vote of confidence in his leadership experience, while critics emphasized the need for broader national engagement as political competition intensifies.