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Preparations for UML general convention over; Khanal, Nepal and Oli eye top post

The CPN (UML) has completed preparations for its 8th general convention to be held in Butwal from February 16 to 21.

Reports from Butwal say necessary arrangements at the Butwal Mandap, the venue of the convention, have been completed, and the central leaders have started arriving in the town. Party delegates and foreign invitees are expected to arrive in Butwal by Sunday afternoon, according to Bharat Mohan Adhikari, head of the General Convention Organising Committee.

The party had announced the list of 1802 delegates at the end of the central committee meeting on Friday.

Meanwhile, a section of UML central leaders is busy in deliberations with leaders and cadres at different levels of the party in an attempt to forge find a conensus candidate for the post of chairman.

Sources say the party ranks are well aware of the intentions of three stalwarts - general secretary Jhala Nath Khanal, former general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and senior leader K.P Sharma Oli - to contest the top post.

For general secretary, which has been the single powerful post till now, standing committee member Pradeep Nepal has declared his candidacy. Party spokesperson Ishwor Pokharel is another likely candidate for the post, but there are no obvious contenders for the posts of vice-chairman and secretary, party sources say.

The UML has decided to go for multi-post leadership system from this general convention which, leaders claim, will be the convention of party unity and ideological clarity. nepalnews.com mk Feb 14 09