CHITWAN: While CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli is striving to get office bearers elected unanimously, influential leader Dr. Bhim Rawal has started seeking votes for his candidacy for the post of party chairman.

Rawal, who started soliciting votes from the delegates by sending an SMS on Friday, has started soliciting votes from the delegates at Sauraha in Chitwan where the closed session of the convention is taking place on Saturday.

Chairman Oli increased the number of members of the Central Committee from 225 to 320 by holding a meeting of the Central Committee on Friday night. However, Rawal has emerged as Oli’s fiercest rival within the UML. He announced his candidacy for the post at a function in the capital a few years ago.

Another leader of formerly disgruntled group Ghanshyam Bhusal has also announced his candidature for the post of vice-chairman.