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UML cadres begin fast-unto-death for consensus

With the top two leaders adamant on their stance for the top job of the CPN (UML), the pressure has been mounting from the junior leaders for consensus leadership.

The young leaders, who had been calling on the senior leaders to reach a consensus for party chair, have started hunger strike within the convention venue in Butwal to build additional pressure on top leaders from Saturday afternoon.

They have announced that fast unto death will continue until the top leaders decide on a common candidate for chairman. From early this morning, many young leaders and convention representatives have begun signature campaign for consensus candidate.

Some others have started sit-in protest saying that the eighth convention should not divide leaders and party members.

Additionally, the convention representatives and leaders from Bagmati zone have said they would boycott the voting process if the top leaders did not go for consensus candidate for new party officials. A few leaders have said they would not even file candidature for central committee member if top leaders fail to reach consensus.

According to the new statute, the party will have eight officials at the center – chairman, three vice chairmen, general secretary and three secretaries.

In the meantime, the recently dissolved standing committee members of the party have begun discussion in their renewed effort to find a consensus candidate for the post of chairman.

The consensus had look grim after KP Oli and Jhala Nath Khanal remain inflexible in withdrawing their candidature for the post of chairman. nepalnews.com ia Feb 21 09