National
Bhattarai counts on NC in Gorkha bid
After his former party CPN (Maoist Centre) denied him support, Naya Shakti Party, Nepal coordinator Baburam Bhattarai has approached the Nepali Congress to seek help in his candidacy from Gorkha-2 in the upcoming federal parliamentary elections.After his former party CPN (Maoist Centre) denied him support, Naya Shakti Party, Nepal coordinator Baburam Bhattarai has approached the Nepali Congress to seek help in his candidacy from Gorkha-2 in the upcoming federal parliamentary elections.
Outgoing Nepali Congress chief whip Chinkaji Shrestha, who hails from Gorkha, claimed that the high commands of the two parties have “tentatively” agreed to support Bhattarai in Gorkha-2 while the Naya Shakti would back an NC candidate in Gorkha-1. Shrestha claimed that he would be contesting from Gorkha-1.
Naya Shakti secretariat member Devendra Parajuli said his party was in consultation with different forces for electoral alliance after its extended secretariat meeting recently decided to field candidates with own election symbol—the eye.
If the Naya Shakti and the NC forge an alliance in Gorkha, Bhattarai could face Narayan Kaji Shrestha of the Maoist Centre in the race.