KATHMANDU: A closed session of the 11th General Convention of the CPN–UML is being held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu from today (Sunday) to select the party’s new leadership.
The closed session to begin at 12 pm today follows the convention’s inauguration at Sallaghari in Bhaktapur on Saturday and will continue in Kathmandu today and tomorrow.
This time, party Chair KP Sharma Oli is facing a leadership challenge from Senior Vice-Chair Ishwor Pokharel. However, as the closed session begins, neither side has formally announced its panel.
Pokharel, who has declared his candidacy for the chairmanship, is said to have the backing of former President and former party vice-chair Bidya Devi Bhandari’s faction, giving rise to speculation about an “Ishwor-Bidya” panel.
A total of 2,262 general convention representatives are participating in the leadership selection process starting today. Under the party’s existing structure, UML will have 15 office bearers, including one chair, three vice-chairs, one general secretary, three deputy general secretaries and seven secretaries. The UML Central Committee will comprise 251 members in total.
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