Sanders will have Democratic platform input, even if not nominee

WASHINGTON, May 23 (UPI) -- Bernie Sanders will have a say in the Democratic Party's 2016 presidential platform, whether he wins the nomination or not.

According to party officials, likely nominee Hillary Clinton and Sanders have agreed with a plan to form a 15-member committee to write the Democratic platform.

Clinton will name six members to the panel and Sanders five, party officials said. Democratic Party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz will name the remaining four.

Democratic Party rules allow the chairperson, Schultz, to choose all 15 members, who will write and present the party's platform at the convention.

Sources say the party decided to include Sanders in the process due to his legion of supporters and the influential campaign he has run so far.

Earlier this month, Sanders accused Wasserman Schultz of moving to tip the convention in Clinton's favor -- in part by accepting three of his more than 40 recommendations for party posts.

The Vermont senator has previously said he would replace Wasserman Schultz as head of the Democratic Party if he won the White House. He's also said he supports her opponent in her Florida congressional race, Tim Canova.