KATHMANDU: There has been a dispute over the formation of a new government within the Madhav Kumar Nepal faction of the CPN-UML, with leaders of the faction issuing public statements.

There is a division within the group over the appointment of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba as the Prime Minister.

Leaders Surendra Pandey, Yogesh Bhattarai, and Jay Kumar Rai, among others, are issuing public statements saying they have not submitted their signatures proposing Deuba as PM. On the other hand, leader Bhim Rawal said that he supported the move in order to save the parliament from being dissolved.

The differences were also discussed in the task force, which was set up to resolve differences in the party, meeting held Friday afternoon at Singha Durba. The task force comprises 10 leaders: 5 each from two rival factions of UML.

Leaders of the Nepal faction said their signatures are being misused.

UML leader Rai from Sunsari Constituency 1 has also written to the President’s Office stating his signature has been misused.

It is said as many as 27 signatures of leaders of the Nepal faction have been submitted by the opposition alliance to stake a claim on forming a new government.