Madhes-based parties will ally with Nepali Congress (NC) for the upcoming National Assembly election after discussions with CPN-UML throughout the day failed to yield any result.
A meeting of NC with Rastriya Janta Party Nepal (RJP) and Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) at Babar Mahal Tuesday evening decided that the three parties will field two candidates each in Province 2, according to NC Spokesperson Bishwo Prakash Sharma.
"Our leaders Ram Sharan Mahat, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and Minendra Rizal had gone to talk with the two parties," Sharma told Setopati. "The three parties together can win six out of eight seats in the province. We have, therefore, decided to field two candidates each," he reasoned. He revealed that the two parties, which also has a presence in Province 5, have informally agreed to support NC in Province 5.
RJP leader Keshav Jha posted a Facebook status stating that the three arties have agreed to field two candidates each in Province 2. Mahesh Chaurasiya, press advisor to FSFN Chairman Upendra Yadav, however claimed that the parties have agreed that NC will field two candidates, and the two Madhes-based parties three each.
The two rounds of talks of Madhes-based parties earlier with UML did not yield any result after they demanded UML should first agree on restructuring of provincial demarcation as per the report of the State Restructuring Committee formed by the first Constituent Assembly (CA).
The State Restructuring Committee of the first CA had proposed six or 14 provinces as per five bases of identity and four bases of capability.
Candidates will file nominations for the National Assembly elections on Wednesday as per the schedule of Election Commission.
