The CPN-UML has decided that its provincial parliamentary parties could elect their respective chief ministers and Speakers through secret ballot if they failed to forge consensus on the candidates.

In a show of democratic practice, party leaders stood against the idea of the Standing Committee picking the CMs, ministers and Speakers from the centre.

On Sunday, a task force of the left alliance decided to allocate four CMs, four Speakers and two deputy Speakers to the UML while two CMs, two Speakers and four deputy Speakers would be appointed from the CPN (Maoist Centre) in six provinces where the two parties are going to form coalition governments. The UML will appoint the CMs in provinces 1, 3, 4 and 5 while the Maoist Centre will have its members leading the governments in provinces 6 and 7.

After the aspirants of positions in the provincial governments and assemblies have started lobbying with their respective factional leaders, the party is having a tough time managing them.

The party has decided that the respective Parliamentary Party (PP) should select its leaders through a vote if there are more than one candidates. However, the provincial PPs should follow the directives while picking their leaders.

“We have decided to issue directives in order to ensure uniformity in selecting leaders in all the provincial parliamentary parties,” said Secretary Bhim Acharya.

Since all the governors have scheduled the first meeting of the provincial assembly, the provincial PP should hold its meeting before the convention and define the major roles. The oldest member convenes the PP meeting to elect its leader as soon as the National Assembly vote concludes on February 7. For the purpose, the PP should draft a procedure and form a three-member poll committee.

The meeting also decided to train voters for the National Assembly election before the silence period starts. The UML has restricted all voters from leaving the country until polling is over, directing them to ensure victory of all the left alliance candidates besides organising programmes for publicity and training jointly with the Maoist Centre.