KATHMANDU: The Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP) is likely to join the Nepali Congress-led government “anytime soon”.

LSP leader Rajendra Mahato said that the process of his party joining the government would begin immediately after Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” returns from Japan.

Prachanda is currently on a five-day visit to Japan.

Mahato has claimed that since the House of Representatives (HoR) has not been dissolved his party can join the government.

“Yes, the date for the election to the House of Representatives and province assembly has been announced. But we can still join the government since the HoR is still functioning,” he said.

Even Communications Minister Gyanendra Karki is optimistic about taking the LSP on board.

On Sunday, LSP leaders, including its Chairman Mahanta Thakur held talks with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on the issue.

“The talks remained positive,” Mahato said concurred by Minister Karki.

LSP leaders, including Thakur, Mahato, Sarat Singh Bhandari, Anil Jha, Sarbendranath Shukla and Laxman Lal Karna discussed joining the government with PM Deuba at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.

The meeting also discussed the withdrawal of cases of the party cadres who were charged with several crimes during the Madhesh movement.

LSP leaders insisted that the government withdrew the cases against those people.

The Madesh-Based party, LSP, which had been demanding the endorsement of the Citizenship Bill, has welcomed the endorsement of the Bill.