The CPN-UML secretariat has removed Ishwar Pokharel as the chief of the party’s Policy and Research Academy and replaced him with Bishnu Rimal.
During a secretariat meeting held on Tuesday, the party reshuffled the responsibilities of various leaders.
Pokharel had contested against Chairman KP Sharma Oli for the post of party chair during the 11th general convention held recently. Rimal, on the other hand, was defeated in the race for deputy general secretary.
"The chairman said that with new leadership in place, it is necessary to reshuffle the leadership of the party’s bodies, therefore it is appropriate to remove him [Pokharel] now," a leader present at the meeting said.
Deputy General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai argued against Pokharel’s removal from the academy. He said that the leadership of an institution recognized for its research and discourse on the party’s policy should not be changed in such a manner.
"We are heading into elections. Responsibilities should not be denied based on the competition that took place during the general convention; this does not send a good message. Not recommending the name of Surendra Pandey (who contested for general secretary) in Chitwan, and now removing Ishwar Pokharel (who contested for chairman) will not send a good message," Bhattarai argued.
In response, Chairman Oli said that he felt saddened by Rimal's defeat in the general convention and insisted that he must be given a responsibility.
