According to UML Central Committee member Surya Thapa, more than a dozen of leaders and cadres including Keshav Sthapit of Sanghiya Samajwadi Party are joining UML.

The new comers will be welcomed by UML Chairman KP Oli at party headquarters in Balkhu amidst a function on Sunday.

Sthapit had left UML before the election of second Constitution Assembly over the row that youth leader Yogesh Bhattarai was given ticket from Kathmandu constituency-6. Dissatisfied with party, Sthapit had joined Sanghiya Samajwadi Party. He obtained 1050 votes.

Staphit remained in limelight while he was serving as Mayor in Kathmandu Metropolitan City. He had joined CPN-ML when the CPN-UML split and he finally moved to Sanghiya Samajwadi Party.

He was also appointed as a chief commissioner of Kathmandu Valley Development Authority by the then Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.