KATHMANDU: The inaugural session of the eighth general convention of the CPN-Maoist has been postponed by two hours.

The conference, scheduled to begin at 1 pm today, has been postponed by two hours.

The Standing Committee meeting of the Maoists had on Saturday decided to transform the National Conference into a General Convention.

According to spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara, leaders of other parties have also been invited to the inaugural session to be held at the Nepal Academy in Kamaladi at 3 pm.

Mahara said leaders of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Janata Samajbadi Party, CPN (Unified Socialist), Rastriya Janamorcha, Nepal Majdoor and Kisan Party, CPN-ML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, among other parties have been invited to the inaugural session.

The party has stated that all preparations for the conference have been completed.

The Maoist party has decided to transform the National Conference into the 8th General Convention as per the request made by a meeting of the party’s Standing Committee.

As many as 1600 delegates and Maoist representatives have already arrived in Kathmandu to attend the national conference.

A total of 1483 are regularly selected while 148 nominated representatives will participate in the conference.

Meanwhile, the conference will elect a new 199-member leadership, including 15 members.

The party’s youth wing YCL has set up various reception gates in different places of Kathmandu Valley.

Party flags and banners have been placed on the conference premises at the Nepal Academy, Kamaladi.