UML to hold talks with disgruntled leaders today

The CPN-UMlL leadership is holding discussion with party's disgruntled leaders representing indigenous nationalities and Madhesi community who have been boycotting the meetings putting forward nine point demands including adoption of ethnic-identity based federalism by party, on Saturday.

UML secretary Bishnu Paudel said they are set to hold talks with the dissident leaders after studying their demands. According to him, the number of the federal provinces and names for them will be the major issues in today's discussion. However, the chances of today's meeting coming up with a concrete decision is slim as the party chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and another senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal will not present in the meeting, said a UML source.

Chairman Khanal has been admitted in the hospital for treatment while leader Nepal is not in the country.

The UML leaders including vice chairman Ashok Rai and politburo member Prithvi Subba Gurung have been boycotting party's meeting to protest against party establishment for not addressing their demands. nepalnews.com