National
NC engages Madhes parties for poll alliance
The Nepali Congress and two Madhes-based parties, which have continued their efforts to forge an alliance for the National Assembly (NA) elections, have yet to reach a concrete deal.The Nepali Congress and two Madhes-based parties, which have continued their efforts to forge an alliance for the National Assembly (NA) elections, have yet to reach a concrete deal.
Leaders from both sides have dim prospects of alliance but there is an understanding for making efforts till the eleventh hour. Talks between the NC, the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal and the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal did not produce any concrete results on Monday.
“Since time is running out, we have reached an understanding to make a last-ditch effort on Tuesday,” said RJP-N General Secretary Keshav Jha. After discussion on Monday morning, both sides are in internal consultations to prepare a strategy for the next round of talks.
The NC and the Madhes-based parties hope to win six seats in Province 2 if there is cooperation. Out of the six, the Madhes-based parties are demanding five. The NC has proposed allocating equal seats among the three parties.
“I talked to RJP-N leader Mahantha Thakur and SSF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav but there has not been an agreement,” said NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi. Earlier, the NC had formed a taskforce comprising Ram Sharan Mahat, Uma Kanta Chaudhary and Minendra Rijal to reach out to “democratic” forces for cooperation during the polls.
“There has not been an agreement with the NC. Consensus seems hard to find,” said RJP-N General Secretary Keshav Jha.
The NC and the Madhes-based parties had failed to forge alliances during the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly elections.
The CPN-UML has also reached out to the Madhes-based parties for an alliance on the NA elections. On government formation in Province 2, Jha said, the RJP-N and the FSS-N are in talks.