A taskforce authorised to divide constituencies among leaders of the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre), which have formed an electoral alliance, are finalising their candidates for the provincial and federal polls in line with a six-point deal the two parties have reached.

While forming the left electoral alliance on October 3, the two communist forces had agreed to share constituencies in 60:40 ratio.

Leaders claimed that the parties have agreed to give three chief ministerial posts to the Maoist Centre, which has staked claim to Provinces 2, 5 and 6.

In 14 districts of Province 1, the Maoist Centre is likely to get five seats for federal polls. There are 28 constituencies in Province 1. In Provinces 2 and 6, the parties are learnt to have agreed to divide constituencies in 50:50 ratio. In Province 7, which has 16 seats, the UML is likely to get 11 seats. Talks were going on to arrive at a conclusion for Provinces 3, 4 and 5.  

The division of constituencies by the taskforce will now be discussed by the UML Standing Committee. Top leaders of both the parties, including Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UML Chairman KP Oli, will also discuss the list prepared by the taskforce before finalising it.

“A meeting of the taskforce until late Wednesday night has more or less finalised the constituencies for the two parties,” UML leader Bishnu Rijal said.

The UML, however, has already finalised the list of its FPTP candidates for the first phase of federal polls which will take place on November 26. According to Rijal, FPTP candidates for parliamentary polls for 52 constituencies were recommended unanimously.