KATHMANDU: Maoist Center and Unified Socialist Party are in talks to form an electoral alliance for the upcoming local by-elections, scheduled for December 1.
Both parties are prepared to contest independently but are open to cooperating where necessary at the local level.
In the 44 constituencies up for election, efforts are underway to unite the factions within the Samajwadi Front.
A leader of Unified Socialist Party, who insisted anonymity, stated that while the party has not finalized candidates in all constituencies, it is committed to cooperating based on the electoral situation in each locality.
“We have finalized candidates in only a few places so far. In some constituencies, the decision is still pending. We are prioritizing unity among the parties affiliated with the Samajwadi Front, and in some areas, there may be coordination with opposition parties,” he said.
The Unified Soialist has only confirmed the candidate for the ward chair of Kirtipur-4.
Discussions about supporting the Maoist Center in the mayoral race are ongoing but have not yet been finalized.
After the two major parties, the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, ruled out the possibility of an electoral alliance, the Maoist Center decided to contest the by-elections independently.
However, they have indicated willingness to cooperate with parties allied to the Samajwadi Front, including Unified Socialist, especially in areas where they have strong support.
The Samajwadi Front, which includes the Maoists, Unified Socialist, and Netra Bikram Chand Biplav-led Communist Party of Nepal, is expected to present a united front in these elections.
Discussions are also underway to include Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, led by Upendra Yadav, which had previously been inactive within the front but is now considering rejoining for the elections due to internal dissatisfaction with Prachanda’s leadership.
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