The CPN-UML has removed its senior leader Bhim Rawal from the party and stripped him of the party’s ordinary membership. The former UML vice chair and former home and defence minister had for long been without any responsibility due to his differences with party chair KP Oli.

In the last UML general convention in November 2021, Rawal had contested against Oli for the post of party chairperson but lost.

A UML secretariat meeting decided to strip Rawal of his party membership after assessing his series of statements and activities that were against the party’s official line, said a senior UML leader.

Rawal had opposed the party’s decision to accept land donated by Min Bahadur Gurung, the owner of Bhatbhateni supermarket, with the intent of building the party’s headquarters.

He publicly spoke against the decision to accept the land, citing Gurung’s “controversial” background. Following his statements, the UML sought clarifications from him and two other female leaders—Binda Pandey and Usha Kiran Timilsina. Pandey is a standing committee member while Timilsina is a central committee member.

Talking to the Post, Rawal termed the action as party chair Oli’s arbitrary and autocratic act. He said the decision was guided by Oli’s intent to make others unquestioningly accept his acts even as he does just about everything to remain prime minister and enjoy power.

“This unjust decision is against communist principles and constitutional right [to expression]. Democratic-minded people will oppose it,” he said.

When asked about his next step, Rawal hinted he would launch a new party rather than joining one of the existing ones.

“If patriotic Nepalis, honest citizens and political cadres want an organised force to champion their causes, I am ready to join hands,” he told the Post. “However, the structure of such an organisation has yet to be determined.”

He said those aspects will be decided based on feedback received from broader consultations.

The secretariat meeting also decided to suspend Pandey and Timilsina from their respective responsibilities for six months each, said party leaders.

“We were engaged in the party’s work when we learned that leaders have given us a six-month break. We will have to use this time in a productive manner. Looking forward to your suggestions,” Pandey wrote on Facebook, reacting to the party’s decision.

Pradeep Gyawali, deputy general secretary of the party, reading out the decision to suspend Rawal, said that his statements were against the party line. “As he kept making statements to weaken the party, we decided to remove him from party responsibilities.”

All three—Rawal, Pandey and Timilsina—had opposed the party’s decision to build its party headquarters on the land donated by Gurung.

The land donation issue landed in the Supreme Court, which later quashed the writ petition after a hearing, paving the way for the UML to proceed with building its new headquarters in Kirtipur, Kathmandu.

The party leadership was not satisfied with the clarifications submitted by Pandey and Timilsina and so they have been suspended from, said Gyawali.

The meeting also evaluated the performance of the government, he said. “The performance of the government is satisfactory, but the meeting also felt the need to inject some momentum,” said Gyawali.

The country’s overall economic condition has improved after the formation of the government, and international relations are also strengthening, said Gyawali.

The meeting also endorsed the formation of three mechanisms by the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML to discuss amendments to the constitution, craft a unified position on pending bills, as well as to improve governance and service delivery.

Each mechanism will have four members from each party. These mechanisms will give suggestions to the government on these key issues, according to ruling party leaders.

Moreover, the UML meeting decided to hold the party’s central committee meeting on January 5 and 6.