The CPN-UML has picked party Chairman KP Sharma Oli as the next Prime Minister of the country.

A Standing Committee (SC) of the party held in Laltipur on Wednesday has decided to name its leader Oli as prime ministerial candidate as he is also the UML’s Parliamentary Party leader, leader Surendra Pandey informed.

The UML leaders also discussed the party unification with the CPN (Maoist Centre) during the meeting, he said.

Following an intra-party discussion of both the parties, a meeting of the Party Unification Coordination Committee (PUCC) is scheduled to be held later today, leader Pandey informed.

Prior to the PUCC meeting, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushapa Kamal Dahal will hold a one-on-one meeting.

During the Standing Committee meeting, Chairman Oli briefed the party leaders about the progress in unification process.

Both the parties have almost reached an agreement to choose the path of joint leadership system after the party unification.

The PUCC meeting will finalise the issue of whether to adopt chairman of co-chairman system.

When the UML’s Standing Committee meeting was underway in Lalitpur, CPN (Maoist Centre) was also holding a headquarters meeting.

According to leader Pandey, the conclusion of internal home work of both the parties will be floated at the meeting of the PUCC.

The PUCC meeting is likely to take a final decision regarding the party unification of the two parties today itself.

PUCC of the left alliance was formed to discuss the merger of two parties.