The ruling Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN (Maoist Center) are mulling over a possible electoral alliance with the newly formed Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Prajatantrik), led by Pashupati Shumsher Rana, for the upcoming local elections in Province 2.

Local polls in Province 2 are scheduled for September 18. Senior NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi told the Post that the ruling alliance “is in discussion” with the RPP (Prajatantrik) for a possible electoral alliance.

Nidhi and Ananda Prasad Dhungana from the NC and Matrika Prasad Yadav and Bishownath Shah from the Maoist Center are exploring ways to form a possible electoral alliance for Province 2 polls.

The RPP (Prajatantrik) was formed after Rana, along with some other leaders, decided to split from the Kamal Thapa-led RPP.

The ruling alliance’s bid to form an electoral alliance with the RPP (Prajatantrik) comes hot on the heels of indications that the latter would join the government.

We are open for an alliance for the local polls—be it our coalition partner Maoist Centre or RPP (Prajatantrik) or even the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal, said Nidhi.

Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had assigned two Madhes-based leaders from his party to explore the possibility of a poll alliance for Province 2 polls. Later NC President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba tasked Nidhi and Dhungana with exploring the possibilities of an electoral alliance.

The RJP-N, which has not said anything about forming a poll alliance with the NC, has, however, made it clear that it is ready to forge an alliance with any party except the CPN-UML.

Leaders of the ruling alliance believe that the poll alliance between the NC and the Maoist Centre during the first two phases of local polls was largely successful.

EC seeks clarification from UML leader Nepal

KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) has sought clarification from CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal for breaching the election code of conduct. The election body asked clarification from Nepal, also a former prime minister, as he was found involved in electioneering, wearing a cap with the party’s election symbol. The EC has directed him to furnish written clarification within 24 hours.

Similarly, the EC has also sought clarification from Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal member Ram Babu Singh and mayoral candidate of Golbazaar Municipality Shyam Shrestha for organising motorcycle rallies in Mahottari and Siraha districts respectively.

The EC has urged the RJP-N not organise rallies against other political parties in view of the September 18 elections.

The RJP-N cadres on Tuesday had pelted stones and waved black flags at UML leader Nepal in Janakpur.