By Sapana Thami, Kathmandu, Dec. 18: The National Conference of the ruling party CPN (Maoist Centre) is being held in Kathmandu from December 26 to 28.

More than 1,500 delegates are participating in the national conference to be held at Academy Hall in Kamaladi. According to Shri Ram Dhakal, Central Office Secretary of the CPN (MC), 30/30 representatives from one of the ten provinces will participate.

Representatives of seven provinces and three special provinces altogether 10 provinces' will be participating in the conference.

Similarly, 1,500 members of the party equal to one representative will participate.

"There is a 125-member senior communist forum. The advisory committee has three commissions of 149 and 75 members,” said Office Secretary Dhakal. He said that 1,500 delegates including the party's organizing committee would participate.

'Preparations will be completed by December 23'

Central Election Committee Coordinator Bishnu Pukar Shrestha informed that the preparations will be completed by December 23. Shrestha said that the voter list would be collected on December 24 and will be published on December 25. "In the run-up to the election, ballot design is being worked out," he said, "We are working on calculating the number of candidates."

He said that the work of the selection of representatives has been completed. Apart from this, there is an arrangement for the Central Committee to nominate in the conference. According to Shrestha, discussions are underway to include women, Adivasi Janajati, Khas-Arya, Madhesi, Tharu, Dalit and other age groups.

The delegates participating in the conference will be managed by the respective province. "Each province will have to manage itself. The delegates will arrive at the conference venue at 11 am after having lunch," said Shrestha, "Laudging will be managed by themself though the high tea will be managed from the organizer."

The main building of Acadamy Hall has a capacity of about 1,300. Shrestha said that additional seats will be provided. He said that the management will be done by placing chairs on the side of the main building and the premises. A working committee of 299 members will be selected from the conference. He said that there may be some additions as per the need.

Conference selects the leadership

He said that the leadership would be selected by consensus or through an electoral process as per the party constitution. "Leadership can be unanimous in selection. If the leadership cannot be elected unanimously, the election may be held as per the provisions of the party constitution,” he said. The ruling Nepali Congress and the main opposition party CPN (UML) have elected new leadership from their General Conventions.