CPN (UML) leader Surendra Pandey has strongly criticized the party’s growing trend of 'personality-driven politics', voicing concerns over the party chairman’s leadership style and underlying structural weaknesses.
Speaking at an event organized on Monday by the Ishwar Pokharel faction, Pandey claimed that the UML was being turned into a “personality-centric politics” driven by the decisions of a few individuals. He stressed that substantial reforms were now essential to safeguard internal democracy.
“This democratic party is being transformed into a personality-driven party—one operated by the decisions of a few,” Pandey said. “If this continues, UML will shrink and lose space among the people.”
According to him, such tendencies have weakened the party’s appeal to younger generations. Pandey questioned, “Why would the new generation join a party where elections do not take place? Why would they join a party where there is no competition and everything is decided through lists from the top?”
To strengthen the party and preserve internal democracy, he argued that no individual should serve more than two terms as party chair. “A provision must be introduced that no one can be party chair for more than two terms,” he said, adding that such a step would resolve many internal issues.
Pandey also raised serious questions about Chair KP Sharma Oli’s interpretation of the party’s ideological line, known as Janatako Bahudaliya Janabad (JaBaJa), which translates to People's Multiparty Democracy. “No one across the country understands the ‘JaBaJa’ as he explains it,” Pandey remarked. “Calling top-down nominations ‘JaBaJa’—is that really ideology?”
He emphasized the need to uphold the existing provisions of a two-term limit and a 70-year age cap for leadership positions. Expressing confidence that the upcoming general convention would take the party in the right direction, he said, “UML cannot backtrack from the commitments it has made. We believe the general convention will provide the correct guidance.”
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