KATHMANDU, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A meeting of the office bearers of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (UCPN-M) on Sunday morning formally decided to withdraw Chairman Prachanda's candidacy for prime minister.

According to the myrepublica.com report, the meeting also decided that if the parliament continues with the prime ministerial election procedure, the party will not participate in the process.

The 8th round of prime ministerial election is scheduled for Sunday afternoon with Prachanda and Nepali Congress' Ram Chandra Paudel as candidates for the PM.

Prachanda has signed an agreement with Communist Party Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal for withdrawal of his candidature.

The two leftist parties have also agreed not to participate in the election. Without participation of the two parties, no candidate can garner majority votes in the parliament.
(Xiong Tong)