Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The process of filing nominations for the new leadership of the CPN-UML has begun.
Dr Bijay Subba, chairperson of the party’s Election Commission, said nominations have been filed as per the election program published on Sunday evening. He added that the final list of candidates will be published by Monday evening.
Outgoing Chairperson KP Sharma Oli and Ishwar Pokharel are contesting for the post of party chairperson by forming their respective panels.
Shankar Pokharel is contesting for the post of general secretary from Oli’s camp, while Surendra Pandey is vying for the position from Pokharel’s camp.
Bishnu Paudel, Ram Bahadur Thapa, Guru Baral, Pradeep Gyawali, and Prithvi Subba Gurung are the candidates of vice chairperson from Oli’s camp. However, sources claim that Gyawali has refused Oli’s offer to contest for the post of vice chairperson. He was eyeing the position of general secretary.
Similarly, Bishnu Rimal, Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, and Raghubir Mahaseth are Oli’s candidates for the post of deputy general secretary, while Chhabilal Bishwakarma, Lekhraj Bhatta, Padma Aryal, Sherdhan Rai, Hikmat Karki, Rajan Bhattarai, Mahesh Basnet, Khagaraj Adhikar,i and Yamlal Kandel are contesting for the post of secretary.
Pokharel, meanwhile, has selected Gokarna Bista, Parashuram Meghi Gurung, Binda Pandey, and Arun Nepal as the candidates for vice chairperson.
Similarly, Yogesh Bhattarai and Baijnath Chaudhary have been finalized as candidates for deputy general secretary. Rachana Khadka, Binod Chaudhary, Karna Thapa, Thakur Gaire, Indralal Sapkota, Purushottam Paudel, Gokul Baskota, Krishna Gopal Shrestha, and Hira KC are in the race for secretary from Pokharel’s camp.
