UCPN-Maoist finally extends CC

Kathmandu, May 20.  After Baburam Bhattarai and his group agreed to join the Central Committee, the UCPN-Maoist chose 50 more CC members today.

The party’s first national organisational convention, conducted in Biratnagar earlier this month, had formed the CC with only 99 members chosen. Two members will be picked up later to give full shape to CC, according to Maoist CC member Mahendra Shahi.

After the CC meeting today, a Maoist leader Devendra Poudel told to nepalireporter.com that 29 CC members are close to leader Bhattarai, who earlier had refused to be in the CC expressing dissatisfaction with Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

The meeting called for 11 am today delayed as the leaders were divided over the names of new CC members.