The CPN (Unified Socialist) on Monday selected Ghanashyam Rijal and Sabitri Malla as candidates for the upcoming National Assembly elections.

According to Mohan Gautam, the party’s central committee member, Rijal will contest from Bagmati Province while Malla will vie in Karnali Province.

The filing of nominations for the National Assembly elections, slated for January 25, has been scheduled for Monday.

As per the power-sharing deal in the ruling coalition, the CPN (Unified Socialist) party has been allotted two seats. The largest party Nepali Congress will field its candidates in 10 of the 19 vacant seats. The Maoist Centre has got six while the Janata Samajbadi Party has got one seat.

Earlier today, Congress announced the names of 10 candidates. Of them six are said to be close to the party’s establishment while others from the dissident faction.

The CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) had finalised their candidates on Saturday. The main opposition party CPN-UML has announced to contest for all 19 of the vacant seats.

The term of 20 lawmakers in the 59-strong upper house expires on March 3. While 19 seats will be filled through elections, one member will be nominated by the President at the Cabinet’s recommendation.