Nepal, Feb. 20 -- In a significant political shift from Rasuwa, nearly 100 leaders and cadres of the CPN-UML, including former district chair and Constituent Assembly member Janardan Dhakal, joined the Nepali Congress (NC) on Thursday.

NC President Gagan Kumar Thapa formally welcomed the group, handing over party membership certificates amid a program marking their entry.

The defecting team includes district, municipal and ward-level office bearers, secretariat members, youth leaders from sister organizations, officials of the Youth Association and ANNFSU, as well as former district and central members of the National Sports Federation. Several members have also been active in sports and social institutions.

Many among them had spent...