UML Gen Convention: Voting begins

CHITWAN: Voting for the various positions of the CPN-UML has kicked off at the closed-session hall in Sauraha, Chitwan.  The voting, which was scheduled to begin at 2  AM, Tuesday, began two hours later around 4 AM.  Challenging the list of office bearers proposed by Chairman Olii, leaders including Bhim Rawal, Ghanashyam Bhusal, Bhim Acharya and Tanka Karki are contesting elections for various key positions.  Earlier on Monday early morning, Oli tabled the names of 19 office bearers including his name as the party chairman. He, however, has been challenged by Bhim Rawal. Rawal was elected party’s vice chairman in the Ninth General Convention.   Ishwar Pokharel, who was proposed as the senior vice chairman, was elected unopposed.  Oli proposed the names of Yubraj Gyawali, Ashta Laxmi Shakya, Surendra Pandey, Ram Bahadur Thapa, Bishnu Poudel and Subash Nembang for six vice chairmen. Leader Bhusal, whose name was not included in the list, registered his candidacy for the same position.  Similarly, the party elected Shakhar Pokharel as general secretary and leaders trio Pradeep Gyawali, Prithvi Subba Gurung and Bishnu Rimal as the deputy general secretaries unanimously.  Two other leaders --- Bhim Acharya and Tanka Karki ---, who did not find their names in Oli’s list, filed their candidacy for secretarial positions. UML will elect seven secretaries from among nine candidates.  Those proposed as the secretaries include Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Raghubir Mahaseth, Chhabilal Bishwakarma, Yogesh Bhattarai, Gokarna Bista and Padma Aryal.