POKHARA: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to arrive in Pokhara today (Friday) to inaugurate the 10th National Convention of the National Youth Association Nepal, a youth wing close to the CPN-UML.
The convention is set to begin today at Amarsingh Ground in Pokhara, where PM Oli will address the opening ceremony. According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Shyambabu Oliya, Chief of Kaski District Police Office, Prime Minister Oli will arrive by helicopter at 11:00 am.
Security arrangements across Pokhara have been tightened in preparation for the visit. CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, and other party leaders are also scheduled to address the inaugural event, informed UML Central Committee member and Youth Association Nepal in-charge Rajiv Pahari.
Around 2,000 representatives from across the country are participating in the national convention.
Five candidates eye chairmanship
As the convention gets underway, the competition for new leadership within the National Youth Association has grown more intense.The chairmanship stands as the primary focus as the association moves forward to elect its new executive team.
At present, about six leaders are contesting the top post. Some are pushing for a unanimous decision, while others are open to a competitive election.
Nevertheless, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has called on party leaders—including the outgoing Chairman of the Youth Association, Kshitij Thebe—to avoid elections and work toward a consensus-based leadership selection. Oli’s appeal has reportedly led to a reduction in the number of chairmanship hopefuls. Among the leading contenders, General Secretary Suman Puri is viewed as a strong candidate. Puri, the nephew of former Lumbini Province Chief Minister Leela Giri, is seen as closely aligned with UML Vice Chairman and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel.
This perceived alignment has fueled speculation that Oli and UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel might favor other candidates to prevent strengthening Giri’s faction. Another notable contender is Maharaja Gurung, nephew of Dolakha MP and former minister Parbat Gurung. Maharaja is reportedly lobbying for the chairmanship with support from Prime Minister Oli’s advisor Bishnu Rimal.
Both Puri and Gurung are considered representatives of competing factions within the party, each attempting to consolidate their influence over the youth organization. Other prominent contenders include Krishnahari KC and Prakash Gautam. Despite the rivalry, there is growing support within the party to extend the tenure of current Chairman Kshitij Thebe, who was unanimously chosen at the previous general convention held in Nepalgunj.
Thebe is actively campaigning for continuation in leadership, with backing reportedly coming from General Secretary Pokharel. The race for leadership has laid bare the entrenched factionalism within the UML, with various leaders promoting candidates aligned with their respective camps.
The results of this convention are expected to reflect these internal dynamics, making the election of the next chairman a decisive moment for the future trajectory of UML’s youth wing.
