KATHMANDU: Following a seven-point agreement between Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah and Rastriya Swatantra Party Chair Rabi Lamichhane, two other emerging political forces have also moved closer toward electoral cooperation.
The Progressive Democratic Party, backed by former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and led by former Maoist Centre leader Janardan Sharma ‘Prabhakar’, and the Ujyalo Nepal Party, backed by Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, are heading toward an electoral alliance.
Leaders involved in the talks said discussions are currently focused on electoral cooperation rather than an outright party merger, with progress being made toward contesting the upcoming election under a single election symbol.
Party leader Madan Bhattarai said discussions over the past four to five days have centered on using a common election symbol, and the two parties are now close to an agreement on this front.
Earlier, talks had stalled after Ghising met Mayor Shah on Saturday, which reportedly caused dissatisfaction on the Janardan Sharma side.“There were discussions about cooperating under a single election symbol, but progress slowed after Kulman met Mayor Balendra Shah on Saturday,” Bhattarai told Khabarhub. “Talks have resumed today. The focus is not on forming a single party but on using the same election symbol. Other ideological, theoretical and political understandings may follow.”
A central committee meeting of the Ujyalo Nepal Party held on Saturday decided to move forward with talks with the Progressive Democratic Party, according to a central committee member.
Leaders including Sudan Kirati, Santosh Pariyar and Kulman Ghising are involved in the dialogue process to advance cooperation between the two parties.
Sources said discussions are still ongoing on whether the cooperation will be limited to a common election symbol or extend to a full party merger, adding that preparations are underway to formalize the agreement in writing if consensus is reached.
Comment