KATHMANDU: In the upcoming local by-election, the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML have formed an unusual electoral alliance in Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality, Rukum East, a stronghold of the Maoist Center since the insurgency era.
For the election scheduled on December 1, the NC and UML have swapped election symbols and candidates. This collaboration aims to break the Maoist stronghold in the region.
Interestingly, UML candidate Kesh Kumari Tulachan, a district committee vice-secretary and central member of the All Nepal Women’s Association, will contest under the NC’s *tree* symbol. The agreement was finalized on Sunday, and the nomination has already been filed.
The two parties have also agreed to field UML candidate Jeevan Roka, a district committee member, for the Ward Chair of Ward No. 2, with NC backing his candidacy.
This unusual partnership stems from a shared belief that defeating the Maoist Center would be impossible without joint efforts.
The by-election was necessitated after the tragic death of Vice Chair Bhupendra Budha and Ward No. 2 Chair Jas Bahadur Shripali, both elected Maoist representatives, in a vehicle accident on September 14 in Baglung. The accident also claimed the life of Bhupendra’s mother.
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