Kathmandu, June 30 -- Until a few years ago, a group of prominent second-rung CPN-UML leaders used to be projected as future leaders of the party.

Current senior vice-chair Ishwar Pokhrel, Vice-chairmen Bishnu Paudel and Surendra Pandey and General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel were among those touted as future chairpersons.

Of late, these leaders have started to speak up on the shape of future leadership but they are not seeking support for themselves. They have rather thrown their weight behind either repeating current chair KP Sharma Oli or former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, who announced her reentry to the UML amid a function on Saturday.

Four-time prime minister Oli has been chairing the party for the second time since November 202...