KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel has defended the decision to forge an electoral alliance among the five political parties saying that it was made out of “compulsion and fear”.

He said that if NC did not forge an electoral alliance, other political parties would do it, which he claimed, would be disastrous for the NC party.

“If the NC doesn’t form an alliance, other parties will do it. Therefore, we are compelled to form the alliance out of fear and compulsion.”

Poudel said that it is high time that the political parties forged an electoral alliance.

He also stated that discussions were underway on how to coordinate among the five-party alliance.

Asked whether he would be the prime minister after the November 20 elections, Poudel said, “It is the responsibility of the party to take this decision. This is not the right time to comment on it.”