KP Sharma Oli has been re-elected as the chairperson of the CPN (UML) for a third consecutive term, reaffirming his hold over the party at its 11th General Convention.
According to the party’s Election Commission, a total of 2,227 votes were cast, while 36 delegates were absent. Oli secured 1,663 votes, defeating his closest rival, Ishwar Pokharel, who received 564 votes. Voting began on December 17 at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu and concluded on December 18. The election was conducted using 80 electronic voting machines.
This victory marks Oli’s third term as party chair. He was first elected during the UML’s ninth General Convention held in Kathmandu in 2015 and was re-elected at the 10th General Convention in Sauraha in 2021. Earlier, at the party’s eighth General Convention in Butwal in 2009, Oli had contested for the post but was defeated by Jhalanath Khanal.
Ishwar Pokharel, who previously served as the party’s general secretary, contested for the chairmanship for the first time. The election featured competing panels led by Oli and Pokharel, while several leaders outside both camps also entered the race as independent candidates.
The 11th General Convention began with an inaugural session at Sallaghari in Bhaktapur before shifting to a closed session in Kathmandu for the leadership selection process. The event has drawn wide attention not only within the UML but also across the broader political landscape, as the party’s leadership direction is expected to influence national politics.
The convention took place amid ongoing debates around internal democracy, leadership continuity, and generational transition within major political parties. As Oli embarks on his third term, the focus now shifts to how the UML leadership will navigate evolving political challenges and respond to increasing public scrutiny in the period ahead.
