By Narayan Adhikari, Chitwan, Nov. 25: The ongoing preparations for the 10th national general convention of the CPN (UML) have reached the final stage.

At a news conference this afternoon, UML’s publicity department Chief Yogesh Bhattarai said that 95 per cent of the preparation was over and the remaining work would be completed tonight.

The inaugural session would be held on the banks of the Narayani river, where the stage is being set. Bhattarai was of the claim that as many as 500,000 people would attend the inaugural session of the party’s jamboree.

Bhattarai added that a hall is being constructed with the sitting arrangement for representatives and volunteers for the closed session while the agreement for lodging and food for them is also made.

In the party’s general convention, a total of 2,175 representatives and 103 observers would take part in the event. The representatives would be from the party’s geographic committees, sister organisations, department and liaison committees and diaspora.

Prime Minister and NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and top leaders of different political parties are scheduled to address the opening session of the 10th general convention. PM Deuba will arrive here on Friday in this regard.

Likewise, representatives of political parties from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and other countries are also scheduled to attend the inaugural session.

Similarly, messages of the best wishes have been received from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and other political parties from different countries, according to Bhattarai.

The closed session of the convention will begin from 8:30 am onwards on November 27. The voting process will begin at 12:00 noon on November 28 and 100 e-voting machines have been readied for the same purpose.