The Naya Shakti Nepal, led by former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai, is ready to use “flame”, the election symbol of the Upendra Yadav-headed Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal, for the upcoming local level elections.

After the Election Commission refused to provide a separate symbol for the NSN, the party decided to join hands with the SSFN in contesting the polls.

Both the parties have intensified unification talks but the issue of leadership has yet to be decided.

With the unification of six Madhes-based parties to form the Rastriya Janata Party on Thursday, Yadav and Bhattarai are under pressure to merge their parties.

On the day the RJP was formed, the two leaders issued a joint statement saying that they would unite soon. The forces have also formed a unification coordination committee.

NSN leader Parshuram Tamang said the parties informed the Election Commission on Tuesday that they would fight with the common symbol.

After an election-related Act denied the parties outside Parliament symbols for the local level polls, 68 fringe forces led by the NSN have been staging protests.