PALPA: The CPN-UML’s former Palpa chairman and former lawmaker Yadav Bahadur Rayamajhi has joined the CPN-Unified Socialist Party (CPN-US).

Speaking at a press conference in Tansen on Saturday, Rayamajhi clarified he chose the Unified Socialist Party as UML Chairman KP Oli was leading the party on an authoritarian footing against the party’s statute and communist code of conduct.

Rayamajhi added he would sincerely execute any responsibility given in the CPN-US.

Rayamajhi, who was chairperson of the UML in Palpa for two terms, remained in the UML after CPN-US Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist Center Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ parted ways with Oli and started their own parties.

Defecting leader Rayamajhi was a member of the UML Central Advisory Council.

UML district committee members Dhan Bahadur Rayamajhi, Devi Prasad Poudel and Mahesh Baral also joined the CPN-US, informed CPN-US’ Lumbini Province Secretary Raju Gurung.