Taking the cue from the third phase of local level polls, the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) has decided to forge electoral alliance with parties that could amend the statute.

The party’s joint meeting of its political committee and secretariat on Sunday decided to form a panel to initiate talks with the like-minded parties, including pro-change forces, for forging electoral alliance.

RJP-N General Secretary Manish Suman said the panel would be formed on Monday and reach out to parties, especially the Madhes-centric parties, for the purpose.“As the people’s verdict of third phase of local level polls urged us to forge an electoral alliance, we have decided to do so in the upcoming polls,” Suman said.

The meeting would also assess the poll results of Province 2, form different committees for poll preparations and set criteria for selecting the candidates.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal (SSF-N) has also determined criteria for selecting the candidates and circulated the notice to the party’s district and provincial committees.

The party has assessed that the RJP-N committed a mistake by not forging an electoral alliance during the third phase of local level polls in Province 2, said SSF-N leader Ashok Rai. 

“Had the RJP-N not taken an erroneous policy, both the parties could have won many more local units,” Rai said, adding that the party would initiate talks for electoral alliance with like-minded parties in the upcoming polls.

During Monday’s meeting, the party also decided to ask the district committees to send the list of candidates soon.

SSF-N leaders have expressed satisfaction on the results of the Province 2 local level polls, in which the party currently maintains the second place behind the Nepali Congress. 

“Despite the limited resources, the results have been satisfactory,” Rai said, adding that they could finish second in the race with the organisational base and people’s commitment to the party.