KATHMANDU, July 19: The central committee (CC) meeting of CPN UML is underway at its party office in Balkhu on Monday.
The meeting is expected to come up with a name of a party candidate for the prime minister’s election scheduled for July 21. [break]
The standing committee of the party had decided to forward the matter to CC of the party to finalize the party candidate on Sunday.
Though the CC meeting was expected to begin at 11 a.m. it has been delayed by nearly 5 hours as the senior leaders of the party were holding a crucial meeting at PM’s office in Baluwatar on Monday morning.
PM Madhav Kumar Nepal, chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and senior leaders—KP Oli, Ishwor Pokharel and Bishnu Paudel—were holding a meeting prior to the CC meet. However, it has not been known what actually transpired in the meeting.
Khanal and leaders close to him have intensified lobbying in and outside the party in his favor while the other faction including Nepal and Oli are reportedly not in favor of Khanal’s candidacy.
The deadline for the filing nomination expires on July 20.
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