The Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist), generally known as Ma-Le, managed to keep itself together by agreeing on a last-minute compromise to keep its central leadership virtually unchanged. The first formal national convention of the ML, held 7-13 December, endorsed Sahana Pradhan as President and Bam Dev Gautam as the all-powerful General Secretary. The ML split from the parent UML party about 33 months ago and was completely routed in the parliamentary elections of May 1999. Powerful dissident CP Mainali has been given charge of the western development region and two other party organisations, while Devi Prasad Ojha is to head the party's publicity wing.