UML dissident faction recognises Gen Z protests
Summary
The UML dissident faction led by Ishwar Pokhrel formally acknowledges the legitimacy of the Gen Z protests, challenging party chair KP Sharma Oli's dismissal of the movement and calling for structural reforms to safeguard intra-party democracy ahead of the UML general convention.
Key Points
- The UML dissident faction led by Ishwar Pokhrel recognized the legitimate demands of the Gen Z protestors, countering KP Sharma Oli's characterization of the protests as anarchy.
- Pokhrel's faction released a concept paper urging structural reforms in the UML to protect intra-party democracy and announced his candidacy for party chair against Oli.
- The concept paper highlighted the destructive nature of the protests but emphasized they reflected public despair over governance failures, rejecting Oli's claim that the protests were a regression.
- Senior UML leaders, including Surendra Pandey and Karna Thapa, criticized Oli's leadership style as fostering individualism, undermining democracy, and reducing youth appeal in the party.
