KATHMANDU: The closed-door session of the ongoing CPN (Maoist Centre)’s eighth general convention will continue today as well.

The general convention that started seven days ago has been blamed for failing to elect the new leadership on time.

Although the election process started Saturday evening, the session deferred on the ground that the new central committee would be elected through a consensus, it has been said.

The postponement followed a proposal by party Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” to delay the session until Sunday so as to pick the central committee through a consensus, stating that homework for this has been done and additional efforts were in need.

The closed-door session accepted Chair Dahal’s proposal, according to a statement released by the party central publicity and publication committee.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of the Maoist Center has postponed the election schedule made public earlier Saturday as part of the ongoing 8th general convention.

The election schedule was postponed after the party requested for the same, said Maoist Election Commission Chairman Bishnu Pukar Shrestha.

As per the previous schedule, the deadline for registration of candidature was to begin at 8 pm and last till 10:30 pm Saturday evening and voting was to take place on Sunday from 11:30 am to 4 pm. Changes have been made to the schedule.

With changes made now candidacy registration would start at 2 pm Sunday kicking off polls procedures. Likewise, voting would be held from 6:25 pm to 10:25 pm Sunday.

The 299-member Central Committee will be elected in the general convention employing a mixed electoral system.

Fifty percent of the members would be elected through open competition and the remaining 50 from proportional system. The elected Central Committee will further elect Politburo, Standing Committee and 15 office-bearers.

The party’s Election Commission published the list of 1,742 delegates as eligible voter earlier in the day.

The 50 percent proportional category ensures Dalit, Muslim, Tharu, Madheshi, indigenous communities, Khas Arya, people with disabilities, backward communities, women and youth’s representation.

The provincial committees tasked with finalizing 154 Central Committee candidates ensuring inclusivity of different clusters under the proportional system are holding discussion this evening.

Of the 154 candidates, 21 will be selected from Province 1, 25 from Province 2, 30 from Bagmati, 14 from Gandaki, 23 from Lumbini, 17 from Karnali, 16 from Sudurpaschim and 8 from special areas.

In Central committee, 35 percent participation of women, 20 percent participation of youth below 40 years is ensured in all clusters and open category. Likewise, a total of 15 percent of Central Committee members would be nominated.