More than 100 youths are aspiring to make their debut in the CPN-UML central committee at the party’s 11th general convention.
For the first time, the UML has created a separate youth cluster and brought them in as delegates.
Among the more than 200 young faces who have become delegates, the majority aspire to become central committee members.
The UML has not yet determined the number of youths under the age of 40 to be included in the central committee through the cluster. The general convention itself will decide the matter. Party leaders have said that preparations are underway to ensure at least 10 percent representation for youths.
With such representation, at least 25 youths are expected to be included in the central committee at the upcoming general convention. In addition, some youths are preparing to become central committee members through open competition.
As debates over representation continue, the number of young aspirants at the general convention has increased. The number of women is also significant, with more than 10 female candidates aspiring to debut in the central committee this time.
Kalpana Kumari Thapa Chand, who also serves as the deputy mayor of Aathabis Municipality in Dailekh, is one of these aspirants. Having worked for a long time in the All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU), which is close to the UML, Thapa was elected as a delegate from her geographical area.
Menaka Pachhain, elected as a delegate under the women's category from Jumla, is also a contender for central membership. Pachhain became active in the UML through student politics (ANNFSU).
Bhakta Kumari Lama, deputy secretary of the UML Bagmati province committee, is also in the race to become a central member this time. Lama, who also entered UML politics through the ANNFSU, says she wants to work in the central committee if the delegates trust her.
Former ANNFSU leaders Kalpana Waiba and Nisha Adhikari are also in the race for central membership this time.
Adhikari was selected as a delegate from her geographical area, while Waiba became a delegate through the youth student special district committee. Adhikari was elected as a delegate from the women's cluster in Chitwan Constituency No. 3.
Sirjana Rai, who also serves as a state minister in Koshi province, also wants to join the central committee this time. She is the minister of state for social development (without portfolio) in Koshi and represents Bhojpur.
Urmila Sunuwar, Kranti Burlakoti, and Arati Bhandari, who became delegates through the youth student special district committee, are also in the race for central membership.
Bhandari is a member of the land problems resolution commission and deputy secretary of UML Madhesh province committee.
Similarly, Radhika Khatiwada is also in the race for central membership. She was elected as a delegate from Sarlahi. Khatiwada also joined politics through the ANNFSU. She is active in the legal profession and has built a social image through it.
