Kathmandu, January 20:

The central committee of the CPN-Maoist today organised a three-day closed-door training programme for representatives of 11 Rajya Samiti (state councils) with a view to preparing them for the upcoming April 10 constituent assembly election.

Senior Maoist leader Mohan Biadya aka Kiran told this daily that the party central committee organised this training to make all the state councils fully geared up for the election.

He said party chairman Prachanda informed the delegates of the councils about the recently concluded central committee meeting that decided to mobilise its rank-and-file for the polls.

“We must fully engage ourselves to the polls with a view to building a new Nepal. We have immense opportunities and challenges ahead of us,” Baidya quoted the party chairman as telling the delegates during the opening session. The media were not allowed to cover the opening session.

Baidya said that team leaders of all the state councils were briefing the party’s position in their respective councils. The central committee is all set to brief the delegates about its three-month election programme. The meeting is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday.

The CPN-M have divided the country into 11 state councils on the basis of ethnicity. They include Newa, Tambasaling, Tamuwan, Tharuwan, Mithila, Avadhi, Khasan, Jadan, Limbuwan, Khambuwan and Magarat Rajya Samiti.