Mahato, chairman of the Sabhawana Party, and Yadav, chairman of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal, are said to be concerned over leadership issues in a unified party.

Leaders privy to negotiations believe that Yadav, who is being considered for the post of parliamentary party leader, fears losing his strength if Thakur, chairman of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP), is projected for the top posts of president, vice-president and prime minister.

“Upendra is not confident that he can gain the trust of all lawmakers. He also fears Mahato could play games within the parliamentary party and have him removed,” said a leader. Mahato meanwhile is said to be vying for command over the party and is believed to covet a future post as party chairman. In order to gather support, he is believed to be planning a robust dialogue with party stakeholders at all levels.

The competing demands of both leaders is said to be delaying the process of unification. Sources maintain that if Yadav feels cornered then he may opt out of the process entirely.

Insecurity and mistrust runs deep between the three parties considering unification, resulting in the inability to forge an alliance prior to the November 19 Constituent Assembly (CA) polls.

In the past, leaders have refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of rival counterparts, with Yadav accusing the TMLP Vice-chairman Hridyash Tripathy of “sabotaging” attempts to form an electoral alliance in the lead up to elections.

If the unification does take place, the new party will have a total of 27 lawmakers in the CA, usurping the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal as the fourth largest in the Assembly.