Kathmandu, Nov. 29 -- Internal divisions have widened in the CPN-UML ahead of its 11th general convention, scheduled for December 13-15. Party chair and four-time prime minister KP Sharma Oli, and Senior Vice-chairman Ishwar Pokhrel, have both declared their candidacy for party leadership and started forming respective panels down to the district level, setting the stage for a heated contest.

As many as 2,200 delegates will be elected from districts and affiliate party organisations to pick the new leadership, according to the party.

Attempts to reach a consensus between Oli and Pokhrel have failed, so there will be a clear panel-wise competition between the two factions in districts. Pokhrel, who announced his intent to contest against...