KATHMANDU: Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chair KP Oli has said joining hands with the CPN (Maoist Center) is not possible now.

Addressing the UML Parliamentary Party meeting at PM’s official residence in Baluwatar earlier Thursday, the PM clarified that there existed no possibility of merger or cooperation with the Maoist Center.

“We want to take the party forward in a new direction, and hence unification with the Maoist Center is not possible,” said PM Oli.

He added the UML would move forward by cooperating with like-minded political parties and leaders and without discrimination against others.

He also explained why an amendment to the party statute is necessary.

“The current UML charter was amended in 2016. The party did not exist in 2018 and therefore, we could not amend the party constitution then. Now, we need to steer the party ahead and for the purpose amendment to the statute is necessary,” he elaborated.