The 17th central committee meeting of the CPN (UML) concluded on Sunday, deciding to intensify the party’s election campaigning.

The meeting that ran for six days at the party headquarters in Balkhu passed the party’s election manifesto and the political paper presented by general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Reiterating its commitment to institutionalise federal democratic republic through constituent assembly polls, the UML urged all the sections of the society to work together in creating a favourable environment for the polls.

The UML central committee also called upon the government to improve security, especially in Terai region, to ensure polls in a fearless environment.

The party made it clear that it was not in favour of “one Madhesh one state” demand being raised by some Madhesi groups.

Even as the meeting decided to go for electoral alliance only at the local level, leaders said the party was ready, in principal, for electoral alliance with pro-republic parties at the central level, too.

The meeting, however, left it to the Standing Committee to decide whether the party should go for prime ministerial or presidential system.

Speaking at a press conference after the conclusion of the meeting, general secretary Nepal informed that the party would now intensify its election campaign in all 75 districts. He claimed that the UML was confident of winning majority in the CA election. nepalnews.com mk Feb 10 08