Dhangadhi. Ten assembly members from the far-western states have identified the CPN-UML as a splinter party. On Tuesday, they were present at the state election office in Dhangadhi to identify themselves as Unified Socialists.
UML has 25 MPs in the Far Western Provincial Assembly, including the Speaker. Of them, 10 state assembly members are open to the Madhav Nepal-led CPN-U.
Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Purna Joshi, Minister for Social Development Lal Bahadur Khadka, Former Minister Maya Bhatt, Ministers of State Chun Kumari Chaudhary, Mana Kumari Saund, Chief Whip Durga Kami, Kulbir Chaudhary, Amar Bahadur Saud, Bal Bahadur Sodari and others were present at the State Election Office, Dhangadhi. Sushila Budhathoki has identified herself in favor of Madhav Nepal's new party.
Similarly, Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Dirgha Bahadur Sodari, Minister of State Archana Gahatraj and State Assembly member Tara Lama Tamang did not turn up at the election office today.
Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Purna Joshi said that more than 15 assembly members would identify themselves.
The Election Commission had given the UML-elected state assembly and local people's representatives until September 8 to choose between the UML and the Unified Socialists.