Oli in Minority at Secretariat Meeting After Shankar and Vishnu Leave

In a recent secretariat meeting held on Saturday, Nepali Congress President KP Sharma Oli was in the minority. The meeting saw the presence of additional officials, including General Secretary Shankar Pokharel and Deputy General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai, leading to Oli being in the minority. Information provided by a party leader indicated that only Ram Bahadur Thapa and Mahesh Basnet remained on Oli's side among the 15 officials present during Friday and Saturday's secretariat meetings. A party leader stated, "Among the 15 who spoke yesterday and today, it is clear that only Ram Bahadur Thapa and Mahesh Basnet will be on Oli's side," adding that other leaders have expressed the need for the president to chart a clear path. The situation does not favor those seeking to protect the president, as per the same source. Secretary Shankar Pokharel also emphasized the need to energize the party cadre and propel the party forward by streamlining the president's path during the meeting, stating, "The party is not functioning well as per the current situation, and the voice for party reform is loud." During Sunday's meeting, Sher Dhan Rai, Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, Rajan Bhattarai, and Khagaraj Adhikari will present their views. Among the five vice-presidents who raised concerns on the first day, four urged President Oli to streamline his path and move forward. Ahead of the meeting today, Secretary Shankar Pokharel held discussions with his close officials and provided insights into his stance, as per a source. The Nepali Congress has a 19-member secretariat. The ongoing pressure for Oli to resign has been building since the conclusion of the 11th General Convention last December, where Oli was elected for a third term. Despite facing pressure to step down for the past six months, Oli remains reluctant to vacate his position. Oli has expressed his commitment to unify the party during the secretariat meetings and assured that he will not make any attacks on the leadership during crisis moments. However, secretariat members are seeking his resignation, citing significant damage caused by Oli's leadership style.