KATHMANDU: The fifth national convention of the CPN-ML kicked off in the capital on Sunday.

Inaugurating the three-day convention, General Secretary of the CPN-ML CP Mainali stressed on the need to forge consensus among the political parties, as the nation was going through a critical phase.

Mainali emphasised the need to draft the new constitution within on schedule and to take the peace process to a logical conclusion.

“The process to form the new government has already started where the Maoists must join for the sake of the nation,” said Mainali. He also accused the Maoists of trying to seize the state power.

Vice president of CPN-UML Ashok Rai, Co-chairperson of Rastriya Janashakti party Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani, central committee member of Nepali Congress Dr Minendra Rijal and central committee member of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Khem Raj Pandit attended the inaugural function.

The convention will also choose a new leadership of the party for the next three years. More than 400 delegates from 60 districts are participating in the convention.