UML decides to field Bhandari's candidacy for President

Kathmandu -  The standing committee meeting of the ruling CPN (UML) has decided to field incumbent President Bidya Devi Bhandari as the candidate for the post of President. 
A meeting of the standing committee that was held at the Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar for about eight hours on Tuesday took the decision to give the party's former vice-chairperson Bhandari's candidacy for the third President of republic Nepal. 
The UML, the largest party in the federal parliament and which has forged an alliance with the CPN (Maoist Centre) since the elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies, is expected to secure an easy victory in the election to the post of President. 
The Maoist Centre will nominate its candidate for the post of Vice President. 
Talking briefly to journalists after the meeting, UML vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam said that the standing committee has decided to give Bhandari's candidacy for the President. 
Prior to the meeting, party chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had held consultations with party senior leaders Jhalanath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal in this connection. Khanal's name was also making a round as the UML's probable candidate for the post of President. 
Although there was debate within the UML whether to field Bhandari as President candidate again or to give candidacy of a new face on behalf the party, the standing committee ultimately decided in Bhandari's favour. 
The election to the post of President is taking place on March 13. 
The standing committee meeting had started at 6 pm on Tuesday to decide on the matter and it continued late into the night.