Kathmandu, Dec. 12 -- Two days ahead of the party's high-stakes general convention, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli spoke with the media on Thursday about party leadership and internal dynamics, but deliberately avoided questions on the March elections and the Gen Z movement that ousted him from premiership in September.

Oli elaborated on the differences between state and deep state but refrained from commenting on alleged foreign backing of the Gen Z movement, as claimed by some political circles.

Oli, who seeks a third constitutive term as party chairman at the 11th general convention that starts on Saturday in Bhaktapur, expressed confidence that he could be elected unopposed.

"Regarding whether I will stand [for election], I don't s...