Himal Press 
POKHARA: The 1st General Convention of CPN-UML Gandaki Province Committee began in Pokhara on Monday.
A total of 908 representatives from 11 districts of the province are participating in the two-day convention. UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel inaugurated the convention as party Chairman KP Sharma Oli couldn’t reach Pokhara due to a flight cancellation.
Addressing the convention, Pokharel stated that the government was encouraging black marketeering and remaining silent about the rising prices of daily commodities.
Similarly, Deputy General Secretary Prithvi Subba Gurung accused the Rastriya Swatantra Party of misleading the youth by relying on its popularity. “People should be aware that no party without vision, policy, and plan can rule the country,” he added.
The general convention will elect a 165-member province committee, according to Rashmi Acharya, coordinator of the convention organizing committee.
In-charge of UML’s Gandaki Province Committee, Gokarna Bista, Secretary Padma Aryal, and former Chief Minister of Gandaki Khagaraj Adhikari also addressed the general convention.
This general convention is being seen as a test of power between UML’s two influential leaders, Deputy General Secretary Gurung and former Chief Minister Adhikari. Gurung is for continuing incumbent chairman Navaraj Sharma and secretary Dhananjaya Dawadi for the new term, while Adhikari is fielding central committee member Mayanath Adhikari as chairman and Rashmi Acharya as Secretary.
