Kathmandu, October 12
CPN-UML Standing Committee member Shankar Pokhrel says it is still possible that the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre can contest upcoming provincial and federal parliamentary elections scheduled for November 26 and December 7 with the common symbol.
The parties have already announced an election alliance, but have said the candidates will contest with different symbols of respective parties.
But, Pokhrel says, “We have already agreed to contest polls with a common symbol, but he [Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal] needs some more time to take his party in confidence. Once he takes the party into confidence, it is possible. We are holding discussions about it.”
“We think if the symbol was common, it would be easier for us to make our voters come united,” he informs.
Meanwhile, he says the two parties are committed to the proposed unification and they will settle technical issues about leadership management though it is quite challenging.
“Currently, the UML is managing three former prime ministers; they were all the chief of the party once,” he says, “When two other former PMs will come to us, we will manage them the same way.”
He says interim provisions will be made about management of top leaders whereas in the long-run whoever wins the trust of cadres will lead the party.
