For the UML leadership, more than 20 candidates from Jhapa are from the Oli panel

Kathmandu – Voting is underway at the 11th National Congress of the CPN (UML) in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, to elect a new party leadership team including the chairperson and central committee members. Incumbent party chairman KP Sharma Oli and senior vice-chair Ishwar Pokhrel are competing for the top post, with both leaders fielding competing panels of candidates for office-bearer and central committee positions. More than 660 leaders have filed nominations for 301 central committee seats.

In the candidate list, the Oli panel includes more than 20 contenders from Jhapa district, highlighting strong representation from the party base of Oli’s home region. Those from Jhapa on Oli’s slate include candidates for central member positions alongside key leaders such as Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Karki.

The election comes amid intense internal party campaigning, with delegates from across Nepal mobilizing at the convention site. Voting has been rescheduled to Wednesday due to earlier delays, and has drawn heightened interest following major political upheavals in the country this year.