Maoists to elect PP leader after December 18*

KATHMANDU: The ruling Maoist Center said it would elect the Parliamentary Party leader only after the Election Commission (EC) hands over certificates to members elected to the House of Representatives (HoR) under the Proportional Representation system.

Chief Secretary of the Maoist Center’s office, Shree Ram Dhakal claimed that since there was no dispute over the election of the parliamentary party leader like in other parties, the party would not make any haste in electing the PP leader.

The Election Commission has said it would provide the certificate of election to the members under the PR category on December 18.

Dhakal said there has been a consensus within the party that Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ will be elected as the leader of the parliamentary party.

“We will elect the party leader after the EC gives the official certificate,” he said.

A total of 18 members from the Maoist Center were elected under the first-past-the-post system and 14 members under PR category in the general election held on November 20.

*(It was earlier mentioned January 18 instead of December 18. We apologize for the typo- Ed.)