A meeting of the Party Unification Coordination Committee (PUCC) of the left alliance—CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre)—has commenced at Manbhawan in Lalitpur on Wednesday.

Prior to the meeting of PUCC, a committee formed to discuss the merger of the two leftist parties, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had held a one-on-one meeting.

It has been learnt that both the parties have almost reached an agreement to choose the joint leadership system.

According to UML leader Surendra Pandey, the PUCC meeting is likely to give final shape to the party unification process.

UML and Maoist Centre which are preparing to announce the merger of two parties before the formation of the government were engaged in internal discussion this afternoon.

The Standing Committee of the UML has decided to name its leader Oli as the prime ministerial candidate.

During the meeting, Oli had also briefed the party leaders about the progress of party unification with the Maoist Centre.