BIRGUNJ: The intra-party row of the ruling party UML has now spread to the district levels also. The latest example can be seen in the sixth district-level convention of Parsa as UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal skipped the prescheduled inauguration ceremony in the eleventh hour.

Khanal took the decision following a media report that said the in-charge of Narayan Zonal Committee Kasi Nath Adhikari and assistant in-charge of the committee Nagendra Chaudhary were engaged in an internal dispute. Khanal cited his busy schedule for the decision, informed Arbindra Singha, member of UML District Committee. Meanwhile, the convention will be inaugurated by UML politburo member Urmila Pandey on Monday afternoon in Nagar Sabha Griha.

According to our sources, regional secretary Jaya Prakash Tharu is planning to hold a parallel sixth convention when district secretary Bijaya Mahato is busy in the convention. Mahato is considered to be close to the Khanal faction.

Meanwhile, the six members of district committee are staging a sit-in protest in the party’s office in Parsa over the list of members participating in the sixth convention. The six leaders who represent the 38-member district committee have been accusing Bijaya Mahato, the coordinator of the convention, of preparing the list of 323 members in favour of his supporters.