KATHMANDU: Prime Minister and CPN-Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has indicated that his party’s candidate is ready to withdraw from the Koshi Chief Minister’s race provided Nepali Congress (NC) comes with an all-agreed name.

In Baluwatar on Friday, the Maoist Center Chairman hinted to NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma, and Dr. Minendra Rijal that the Maoist Center would withdraw itself if NC came with an all-acceptable candidate from their (NC) party.

Earlier, Maoist Center’s Province parliamentary party leader Indra Angbo of Koshi submitted a claim for the Chief Ministership in Koshi on Thursday. However, NC Shekhar Koirala faction’s province assembly member Kedar Karki also submitted a claim to the Chief Minister with CPN-UML support, clearly indicating a revolt of eight province lawmakers.

A meeting of Nepali Congress leaders is going on at President Deuba’s residence in Dhumbarahi to discuss on the same.

According to NC sources, despite Dr. Shekhar Koirala’s absence from the meeting, the leaders are making efforts to make a consensus on Karki’s name for the Koshi Chief Minister. However, leaders close to President Deuba are skeptical of the loyalty of UML-backed Karki in the days to come.