KATHMANDU: CPN (UML) Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai has advised party Chairman KP Sharma Oli to hand over leadership smoothly, calling it a key aspect of party reorganization.

Speaking at the 10th Central Committee meeting on “Today’s Crisis and Party Reorganization,” Bhattarai said that while party rules and past conventions indicated Oli could continue as chairman in the 11th general convention, extraordinary circumstances in the country and public expectations require reconsideration.

He suggested two options: immediately appoint the senior-most leader as acting head and elect new leadership at the upcoming convention or hold the convention under Oli’s leadership with a prior announcement of leadership transfer and election of new leaders.

Bhattarai emphasized that the choice between these options should be left to the chairman’s discretion.