Ending months of suspense and intra-party bickering Nepali Congress on Wednesday formally named party president Sushil Koirala, 73, as its candidate for the prime minister’s post.

The move which follows pressure from ruling Maoists and opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) is seen as another step to end the ongoing political and constitutional crisis.

Koirala’s name was forwarded by party vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel and seconded by senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba at a meeting of Nepali Congress office bearers. It was later endorsed by the party’s central working committee.

The decision is aimed at showcasing unity within the party which has been seeking leadership of the proposed national unity government---the formation of which is hoped to end the current impasse.

Both Poudel and Deuba had been gunning for the PM’s post which in turn exposed differences within Nepali Congress and hurt the party’s prospects of leading the unity government.

“Today’s decision is a fitting reply to all who talk of differences in our party. We hope following this, all parties will reach consensus within the next two days,” Poudel told mediapersons.

Nepal’s present logjam started in May with dissolution of the constituent assembly without promulgating a new constitution.