KATHMANDU, 23 April, 2021 (TON): A nineteen-member Standing Committee has been formed by CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli including the party vice-chair Bamdev Gautam.

Oli, however, has not included even a single leader from the Madhav Kumar Nepal faction in the Standing Committee.

However, Oli has given space in the committee to those who came from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre).

After a series of talks at the upscale hotel in Kathmandu during which the two sides denied to move from their word, Oli came up with his move.

The members of the committee include Ishwar Pokhrel, Shankar Pokhrel, Pradeep Gyawali, Satya Narayan Mandal, Subas Chandra Nembang, Bishnu Poudel, Bishnu Rimal, Chhabilal Bishwokarma, Raghubir Mahaseth, Kiran Gurung, Prithvi Subba Gurung, Pushpa Raj Kandel and Keshav Badal.

The other four are Ram Bahadur Thapa, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Lekhraj Bhatta and Mani Thapa, former Maoist Centre leaders.

Bijay Subba, a UML leader, member of the national convention organizing committee said, “Today’s meeting of the party’ 10th national convention organizing committee has formed a 19-member Standing Committee.”

Similarly, in 2014, the ninth national convention of the UML had elected the 15-member Standing Committee. Madhav Nepal and yet another leader was added to the committee, making it a 17-strong committee. Later, five more members were added.