Kathmandu, February 5:

The CPN-UML has in principle agreed to put off its 8th general convention to prioritise and concentrate on the party’s strategy and policy for the April 10 Constituent Assembly election.

The 17th central committee meeting of the party that began today at the party office, Balkhu, agreed to concentrate on the CA election and to postpone the party’s general convention considering “special circumstances.”

Party leader Amrit Kumar Bohara justified the decision to postpone the party’s general convention citing the party’s crucial role in making the CA poll a success. “We decided that

the CA election should be given more priority at this phase,” he said.

Earlier, at the start of the central committee meeting, UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the party “needs to put its maximum concentration and priority” to the April 10 CA polls. The UML strongman said the party should take the maximum benefit of the CA election to establish UML as the major political force in the country.

Presenting his political report at the meeting, Nepal, however, raised concern over the deteriorating law and order situation, especially in the Tarai. He said the coalition government’s priority now should be maintaining the law and order situation and creating a favourable environment for the historic election.

He, however, assured the government that his party was ready to cooperate and play the role of a major political party to create the political environment for the election.

Bohara said the meeting will continue for at least three days to discuss and finalise the political proposal on party general convention, party manifesto for the constituent assembly polls, report of the task force formed to study Tarai problems and mobilisation of party cadres for the polls.

During today’s meeting, party leader Jhalanath Khanal presented his party manifesto report, which is likely to be endorsed by the central committee.

A statement issued by the party after the meeting said: “Since the party has a significant role to make the CA polls a success, the central committee, as the supreme body of the party, has decided to hold the party’s 8th general convention only after the CA election.”