CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) are preparing to register the unified party at the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday ending the unification process of almost nine months.
Leaders of both the parties confirmed with Setopati that the one-on-one meeting of Prime Minister (PM) and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal held at the PM's official residence in Baluwatar Wednesday morning has taken decision to that regard.
The coordination committee meeting has been called for 10 Thursday morning to take the final decision on unification. The two parties have also called meeting of their respective party for internal discussion on unification.
The unification process has neared conclusion after UML Chairman Oli dispelled suspicions of Dahal during Wednesday's meeting, according to a UML leader. "Chairman Oli has said all the issues have been agreed upon and the unification will happen," the UML leader said. "Unification will be announced by holding a press conference at four Thursday and we are preparing to register the party at the EC tomorrow itself."
UML has called a standing committee meeting at four Wednesday afternoon to discuss unification.
"The two leaders have reached an understanding to elect the chairman after the general convention for unification, and settle ideological issues and organizational structure all through consensus," a Maoist leader told Setopati when asked how the agreement has been reached.
"The understanding between the two leaders will also be made public in written form," the Maoist leader said. The two leaders have also agreed to keep only around 20-25 more UML leaders in the central committee of the unified party.
Maoist Center has also called an extended secretariat meeting at four Wednesday afternoon to discuss unification.
The two parties had announced an electoral alliance on October 3 with a promise to unify the parties after the election.
They had then signed a seven-point agreement on
February 19 and announced they will soon unify but there was no solid progress in unification since.
The unification was earlier scheduled for April 22 to mark the centenary of formation of the first communist party in Nepal, but that was postponed in the eleventh hour.
The parties had then said the date will be announced on May 5 on the occasion of 200th birth anniversary of Karl Marx but that also did not happen.
