KATHMANDU: CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel announced on Sunday that the party’s upcoming statute convention will formally propose removing the 70-year age limit, which is currently under suspension.

Speaking at a gathering of UML’s central departments at the party headquarters in Chyasal, Pokharel said it is the duty of the central committee to endorse the removal of the age restriction through the statute convention.

He also sought to address ongoing confusion regarding various constitutional provisions of the party, assuring that all such issues would be clarified during the convention process.

Recalling a central committee meeting held in Sauraha on Mangsir 10, 2078 BS, Pokharel noted that a proposal by then-deputy general secretary Bishnu Prasad Paudel had led to major constitutional changes.

The first statute convention in Godawari had envisioned a 225-member central committee with 15 office bearers. However, the number was expanded to 301 central committee members and 19 office bearers in response to a political crisis.

Pokharel also confirmed that the earlier two-term limit for the party chairperson was removed to enable leaders like KP Sharma Oli to remain in leadership. As a result, leaders such as Pushpa Kandel have been elected for a third term as Accounts Commission chair, and the age limit was waived to accommodate 74-year-old Mukunda Neupane’s entry from the CPN (Unified Socialist) in Baisakh 2080.

He said the proposed changes reflect the evolving needs of the party and its commitment to addressing political challenges through flexible constitutional reforms.