Kathmandu July 16 : The Nepal Communist Party (UML), which is thought to have a strong internal management as compared to other parties, has seen a decline in the number of organised members. The provincial in-charges provided an update on the party’s status at the meeting held on Saturday. They expressed their disappointment at the presentation of the depressing numbers without mentioning the number of renewed memberships.

Only approximately 50% of the incumbents are expected to be renewed, according to a party secretary, based on the information from the secretariat meeting.

“Although the final details are yet to come, it is evident that the number of members who will renew their membership is decreasing in proportion to the loss,” said the secretary. “Even though there has been some increase in membership renewal, overall the situation is not satisfactory, especially regarding the subject of renewal in Madhes Province.”

In the meeting, it was revealed that the renewal situation ranged from 50% in Koshi, 30% in Madhes, 50% in Bagmati, 60-65% in Gandaki and Lumbini, and 35-40% in Karnali and Sudurpashchim. The UML had previously stated that it had 800,000 party members during the 10th national convention.

Kashinath Adhikari, the head of the UML organization department, did not provide any information about the current status.

“The renewal has started. All the details have not yet arrived. Once we have all the information, we will provide it,” said the chief of the UML organization department. “The situation is not favorable for renewal in Madhaesh Province compared to other provinces.”

In the meeting held on Saturday, the provincial in-charges Raghuvir Mahaseth, Bishnu Rimal, Gokarna Bista, Padma Aryal, Lekhraj Bhatta, and Chhavilal Bishwakarma presented their reports on their respective provinces. Madhesh Province in-charge Yogesh Bhattarai was absent, so Secretary Mahaseth provided information about the situation there.

The UML has planned to carry out renewals until July Mid. and hold the Provincial Committee’s general convention by Bhadra (August/September). The renewal deadline had been extended until mid-Shrawan (end of July) during the UML secretariat meeting held on Saturday, after the report on renewal was not presented.

“The work of renewing party membership will be completed by Asar (June/July). We have decided to update membership and prepare for the convention by adding members until Shrawan 15,” according to the press release issued by the publicity secretary, Gagan Bista, after the meeting.

In the UML, membership renewal was supposed to take place around the time of the previous convention. “Previously, membership renewal used to take place only once during the convention, and details were presented by a single leader,” another official said. “Now we are renewing membership in the meantime. We don’t see enthusiasm for it. Members are not showing interest even when the government is introducing immediate benefits.”

In the parliamentary elections of 2074 BS (2017), the UML and the Maoist Center together achieved a majority in the federal parliament and obtained a majority in six out of seven provinces. Currently, the UML is in the opposition in both the central and provincial governments.

Within the UNL, there has been speculation about the impact of the internal review on the new party. In a political report presented by Chairman KP Sharma Oli during the Central Committee meeting held in Baisakh, he mentioned the option of a powerful alliance as an alternative to the ruling coalition, expressing concern about not receiving a mandate from the voters.

During the parliamentary elections held in Mangsir (November/December 2022), although the vote share decreased compared to the previous election, the UML was the first party to secure a position. In the by-election held on Baisakh 10, despite a decrease in votes, the UML’s result had mentioned a significant decrease in the number of seats in the representative assembly even if the number of seats in the House of Representatives remained unchanged, which Chairman Oli had expressed concern about.

To revitalize the party organization, the UML had launched the “Mission Grassroots” campaign from Falgun to Baisakh. It had started practicing party organization on the ground. Leaders were given responsibility for their own territories, and the responsibility was given based on geographical locations different from their own residence.

When it was inactive for a long time, the party organization, which could not be operationalized, was criticized publicly by Chairman Oli, comparing it to a hippopotamus. He said that even though it is a big animal, a hippopotamus does not give milk or shed tears, just like the party organization.

The UML was unable to attract the youth with its new agenda, including the announcement of various programs, including ensuring a certain percentage of representation for youth under 40 years of age in all committees.

During the Central Committee meeting held in Baisakh, decisions were made regarding the division of work among the central members, carrying out effective work with elected representatives from the party, conducting public campaigns, expanding the organization, and attracting youth and their participation in the party.

New programmes would be introduced in response to ideas made by the Mission Grassroots campaign, it was revealed. One such initiative was the “Daughters and Sons Across the Country” programme, which sought to get UML leaders’ kids involved in politics. The programme was designed to stop the offspring of senior leaders from starting new parties and running as independents.