Kathmandu, August 23:

Youth leaders of the CPN-UML today asked the party leadership to make republican set-up as an agenda of the party and call an early general convention of the party to reform it. Addressing a programme, Khimlal Bhattarai, chairman of All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), said the UML should stand for a republican system as it has become the voice of the people. He was of the view that neglecting it would leave the party isolated from the people. Ex-general secretary of the union, Ghanshyam Bhusal, said the UML has lost its position among the people due to its several unacceptable decisions and the party needs to be “upgraded”.

Gokarna Bista, the chairman of the youth wing of the party, said that the party should go ahead with the demand for a constituent assembly. Tanka Karki, the coordinator of the Ex-Students’ Council, said, “Republican set-up should be the immediate goal of the ongoing agitation.” However, UML central leaders present at the programme remained tight-lipped on making republican set-up as a party agenda and calling general convention of the party.