Nepal, who is yet to announce his candidacy as the party chairman, is said to be working overtime to get the better of his chief rival KP Oli at the 9th General Convention on July 3.

"I will not hesitate a bit to announce my candidacy for the UML chairmanship if my party deems my leadership is necessary," Nepal told reporters at a programme organised by UML-aligned Nepal Sports Federation in Itahari on Thursday.

Making a pitch for youth leadership, Nepal also encouraged the party's youth leaders to contest for senior party posts in the upcoming general convention.    

The former prime minister's remarks came a day after he hinted at the possibility of incorporating in its new statute the Organisation Department's recommendation to fix the upper age limit of 70 years for senior party leaders to retire from active party politics.