KATHMANDU: Several leaders affiliated with the Bamdev Gautam-led faction of the Nepali Communist Party (CPN) have returned to the CPN (UML).

On Thursday, CPN Politburo member DB Karki and six central committee members reached the CPN (UML) headquarters in Chyasal, where they were formally welcomed back by party Chairman KP Sharma Oli.

Karki had previously served as a member of the first Constituent Assembly from the CPN (UML) and had remained close to Gautam’s faction for several years.

Other CPN central committee members who rejoined the CPN (UML) include Radheshyam Gupta of Rupandehi, Vidya Prasad Sharma of Dailekh, Bamdev Gautam of Dang, Bhola Baral of Morang, Deepak Itani of Dhading, and Rabindra Bam of Baitadi, among others.