CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli formally rejected calls for leadership change Monday, telling the party's Central Committee meeting he will not step down and that replacing leadership cannot be called party reorganization.
The declaration effectively settles for now what was months-long internal battle that had pitted Oli against his own senior leadership including General Secretary Shankar Pokharel and Vice Chair Bishnu Paudel who had pushed for him to hand over leadership as part of a broader restructuring following UML's poor showing in the March 5 election.
"I have made it clear that the party will not be restructured unless it faces a major crisis," Oli said, warning that a hasty handover without institutional preparation will create a serious vacuum in the party. He drew on Nepali communist movement history to argue his case.
Oli said he remains open to criticism on policy, working style, candidate selection, and decision-making but objected sharply to what he called character assassination language creeping into internal criticism, specifically references to his health, age, and body.
His handling of dissent at the meeting itself drew attention as he had a heated exchange with Central Committee member Krishnagopal Shrestha, and blocked leader Karna Bahadur Thapa from immediately presenting a separate, competing document.
This resolves the tension from last week's rejected compromise report and the reform camp has effectively conceded at least for now leaving Oli in place.
