The CPN-UML has decided to field party vice-chair Subas Nembang as its presidential candidate for the upcoming presidential election.

The decision was taken following a meeting of the party’s central secretariat on Saturday, said UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai.

“As per the agreement reached in the alliance previously, we have decided to nominate party vice-chair Subas Nembang as a candidate in the presidential election,” UML’s Deputy General Secretary Prithvi Subba Gurung said.

“We are actively discussing and communicating with all parties for support. However, we will not be reaching out to the Nepali Congress since they already have their own candidate.”

No discussion on the government has been held as of yet, Gurung added. “The presidential election is fast approaching. We are currently in the coalition government formed on December 25, 2022.”

Nembang is a former speaker.

On the other hand, the Nepali Congress has selected party’s senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel as their candidate in the presidential race.

A total of eight political parties on Friday agreed to support the Nepali Congress candidate in the presidential election scheduled for March 9.

The Congress candidate will be supported by four ruling parties—the CPN (Maoist Centre), the Janata Samajbadi Party, the Janamat Party, and the Nagarik Unmukti Party, while the three parties in the opposition— the CPN (Unified Socialist), Loktantrik Samajbadi Party and Rastriya Janamorcha—will also support the party for its presidential bid.