Nepal’s Youth Demand a Seat at the Political Table as Party Convention Kicks Off
The political landscape of Nepal is experiencing a seismic shift, fueled by the fervent demands of its Gen Z population. A wave of youth-led protests that swept the nation in September has not only reverberated through the corridors of power but has also spurred significant internal reforms within the country’s major political parties. The Nepali Congress, a key coalition partner, felt the tremors as the KP Sharma Oli-led government ultimately collapsed in the wake of these demonstrations.
This surge of youthful activism has ignited a critical debate within the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) – the UML – regarding the urgent need for a generational handover of leadership. In response, the party has opted to convene its 11th general convention a year ahead of its scheduled date. The convention, which was originally slated for approximately twelve months from now, commenced on Saturday, marking a pivotal moment for the party.
Optimism Tempered by Reality: Youth Representation at the Forefront
Despite the accelerated timeline of the general convention, many young leaders within the UML express a cautious outlook regarding the prospect of substantial youth representation in the party’s highest echelons. While the presence of youth delegates at the convention itself is deemed satisfactory, a significant concern remains: the absence of a dedicated quota for youth in the allocation of party office-bearer positions.
Rachana Khadka, a young member of the UML central committee hailing from Dolakha, articulates this sentiment. She acknowledges the commendable representation of youth among the delegates but highlights the lack of specific provisions for them to secure key office-bearer roles. Nevertheless, Khadka remains hopeful, believing that the current general convention has the potential to challenge and redefine traditional notions of party leadership.
“The delegates attending this general convention must exercise sound judgment to ensure that young leaders are given opportunities to occupy the party’s office-bearer positions,” Khadka urged. Her experience, including a brief tenure leading the finance ministry in the Bagmati provincial government, lends weight to her advocacy for a more inclusive leadership structure.
The UML’s Struggle for Youth Engagement
The UML has, in recent times, grappled with declining youth participation in its various programs and initiatives. What was once a vibrant youth constituency for the party now appears to lean more heavily on established senior figures, a trend lamented by several young UML leaders.
The party’s “Mission Grassroots” campaign, launched shortly after the 2022 general elections, inadvertently underscored this challenge. The lukewarm engagement from young people during this campaign served as a stark reminder of the pressing need to actively integrate youngsters into the party, potentially through special measures.
This realization led to a subsequent decision mandating the inclusion of individuals under the age of 40 in various party committees. The quotas were set at 33 percent at the ward level, 20 percent at the municipal level, 15 percent at the district level, and 10 percent at the provincial levels.
The powerful Gen Z movement in September further solidified the imperative for increased youth presence within the party’s structure. Consequently, arrangements were put in place to ensure that each of the 165 electoral constituencies and the party’s special committees would have at least one delegate under the age of 40 present at the convention.
A Glimpse at the Convention’s Demographics
The impact of these measures is evident in the strong youth participation observed at the current convention. According to central member Khadka, individuals under 40 constitute approximately 16 percent of the delegates, while those between the ages of 40 and 50 represent about 20 percent. Despite this improved representation, youth leaders within the party still perceive limited opportunities for younger individuals to ascend to top leadership positions.
Mahesh Bartaula, who previously served as the chief whip of the party in the dissolved House of Representatives, shares this pragmatic, if not entirely optimistic, view. He points out that the path to top positions is challenging, even for long-serving active politicians who have yet to secure such roles.
“While the positions of party chair, vice-chairs, and general secretary might remain the domain of established leaders, there is a possibility that new faces could emerge as deputy general secretaries and secretaries,” Bartaula suggested. “However, these new faces may not necessarily be young leaders.”
The UML’s statute outlines the election of 15 office-bearers, including a chair, three vice-chairs, a general secretary, three deputy general secretaries, and seven secretaries.
Hopes for a Renewed Leadership Paradigm
Menaka Pachhai, another young leader who has been elected as a general convention representative from Karnali Province for the second time, echoes Khadka’s sentiments. Pachhai, however, believes that the party is demonstrating a more serious commitment to youth inclusion in the selection of convention representatives this time around.
She is optimistic that the new arrangement, which includes a distinct youth cluster of convention delegates, will contribute to enhanced youth representation, at least within the party’s central committee. Pachhai, who is running for a central committee membership from the establishment faction, notes a palpable excitement among young party members regarding the proposed new leadership structure.
She expresses hope that new individuals will secure office-bearer positions, particularly in the secretary roles. However, Pachhai clarifies that these emerging figures might not strictly fit the formal definition of “youth” but rather individuals who can effectively articulate and represent the aspirations of the younger generation.
“It is improbable that leaders under 40 will secure office-bearer positions. Given the party’s extensive organization, key positions will likely be entrusted to individuals with political maturity and experience, which should not be viewed as an unusual development,” Pachhai stated.
The Road Ahead: Factions and Future Prospects
The UML’s general convention, which commenced on Saturday, is set to move into its closed-door session on Sunday. Barring any unforeseen changes, two primary factions are expected to vie for leadership control. Incumbent Chairman Oli, 74, is seeking a third term and faces a challenge from the party’s senior vice-chair, Ishwar Pokhrel, 71. While the specific panels proposed by each faction have yet to be officially revealed, sources close to the developments suggest that the establishment faction may re-nominate many familiar faces for top positions. In contrast, the rival faction, led by Pokhrel, is reportedly considering the inclusion of younger candidates in its panel for office-bearer contests.
Rachana Khadka, who holds the distinction of being the youngest UML member elected to the central committee at the ninth general convention in 2014, is reportedly running for the position of party secretary under Pokhrel’s banner. Khadka, in her early 40s, is poised to be among the youngest contenders for an office-bearer role.
Another emerging youth leader, Prakash Poudel, is also preparing to contest a central committee position. Poudel, an elected general convention representative from Myagdi district, recently experienced a defeat in the race for the leadership of the party-affiliated student organization.
Poudel attributes the limited opportunities for leaders under 40 to reach top positions to the party’s structural shortcomings. He specifically points to a clause within the party statute that, he argues, restricts fresh faces from even contesting office-bearer positions. According to Poudel, the statute mandates that only individuals who have previously served at least one term in the central committee are eligible to run for office-bearer roles, creating a significant hurdle for younger leaders aspiring to senior positions.
“As young leaders face limited avenues to meet the criteria stipulated in the party statute, the prospects of those under 40 being elected as office-bearers this time remain dim,” Poudel concluded. “However, a fair level of youth representation in the central committee can still be anticipated.”