500 Complaints at the Discipline Commission, But Why No Action?

Kathmandu — Even after retiring from active politics, CPN-UML’s outgoing Central Discipline Commission Chairman and former Chairman of the Central Advisory Council, Keshav Badal, has expressed serious concerns about the internal chaos, the self-centered attitude of the leadership, and the lack of resolution regarding serious complaints within the party. He has accused the KP Sharma Oli-led leadership of arbitrarily changing party statutes, not listening to advice, and protecting controversial leaders from disciplinary action.

In an interview with Jan Aastha weekly, the senior leader vented his frustration that most of the over 500 oral and more than a hundred written complaints received during his tenure as the head of the Central Discipline Commission were not resolved.

Badal alleged that action could not be taken even when various leaders were embroiled in scandals. “I said this was not right, but Comrade KP did not listen,” he said, “I am not happy that we couldn’t do as much as we should have.” He stated that serious complaints, including those of sexual misconduct, came from within the party, but people were unable to file written complaints due to fear.

Badal also expressed deep dissatisfaction that the party statute passed by the Godavari National Convention was amended just three months later. He said, “The decision regarding the size of the Secretariat, Standing Committee, Central Committee, etc., made just three months ago, was overturned. Only the decision to remove the Senior Vice-Chairman remained.” He considered this a failure of the party leadership. “What I want to say to Comrade KP and others is that decisions should be made only after careful thought and consideration,” he suggested, “Hastily promoting and demoting is not good. If this matter is not taken seriously in the coming days, another accident could happen.”

The senior leader warned that greed for money, sexual relations, and positions has increased within the party leadership, and this is weakening the organization. He said, “The current leadership operates under the assumption that ‘I alone am all-knowing, and others are merely there to listen.'” He compared Madan Bhandari’s collective leadership style with KP Oli’s unilateral decision-making process, labeling the current leadership as self-centered.

Badal also raised serious suspicions about the fire incident at the party office in Keshar Mahal. He revealed that during the fire, complaints, action documents, investigation reports, and his personal collection of 29 sacks of books kept in the Discipline Commission’s room were burnt. “Other rooms were not gutted like that, but the Commission’s room alone was completely burnt down, leaving nothing behind,” he expressed his apprehension.

Finally, advising KP Oli, he said, “Every person has a heart, has emotions. Never do anything that hurts their feelings. What do you gain by hurting others’ hearts?”

Badal’s interview has exposed the serious internal conflict within the UML, growing dissatisfaction with the leadership, and the risk of the disciplinary process collapsing. It remains to be seen how the party leadership will respond to this.