In a meeting held at Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s residence in Lazimpat, seven opposition parties informally agreed to co-work during constitution-drafting.

Leaders attending the meeting said the proposed alliance will honour the spirit of the People’s War, People’s Movement II, Madhes Movement and all other political, cultural and linguistic revolutions while writing the constitution.

Upendra Yadav, chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal, said the parties had expressed their readiness to move together to press their common agenda. He said the parties were likely to work together as they share more or less common vision in issues such as identity-based federalism and state restructuring.

“It was a preliminary discussion so it will be too early to say anything about the alliance. But there has been fruitful talk on the role we should collectively play throughout constitution-writing and the peace process,” said Yadav.

Leaders said the alliance can have several other likeminded parties inside and outside the CA. The parties are said to be worried that their poor command in the CA could subvert the progressive agenda of recent revolutions.

Ashok Rai, chairman of the Federal Socialist Party Nepal, said Saturday’s meeting had made the parties realise the need to move together. “All participants were positive about forming an alliance, which will take some time to materialise,” said Rai.

The meeting reached an understanding for forming a single voice on the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commi-ssion on Disappearance. The parties also decided to press for the implementation of agreements signed with Madhesi parties particularly after the Madhes uprising.

UCPN (Maoist), Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik), MJF-Nepal, Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party, Sadbhawana Party and Sanghiya Sadbhawana Party were among the parties that discussed the idea.