Madhes-based parties have responded positively to the proposal of CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal for an electoral alliance for the third phase of local level polls scheduled to be held in Province 2 on September 18.

However, leaders of the regional parties believe that Dahal wants an alliance with only the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal, which has boycotted the first two rounds of local polls. But RJP-N leaders say they will not discuss poll preparations without their major demand for constitution amendment being addressed.

In Bardibas of Mahottari on Monday, Dahal said his party would forge electoral alliances with the Madhes-based parties in the eight Tarai districts. He even said there was still the possibility of increasing the number of local federal units in Province 2 in order to bring the RJP-N on board the election process.

Since the ruling coalition partner Nepali Congress has a strong base in Province 2, the Maoist Centre is in search of options to improve on its poor showing in the two phases of local polls held earlier.

According to field reports presented by the party’s local leaders in Janakpur on Monday, the NC would be the major competitor of the Maoist Centre and in some places the CPN-UML at others. The third largest party in Parliament, Maoist Centre formed alliances with the NC in many places and also with the UML in some local units.

According to NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi, the ruling parties NC and Maoist Centre have also agreed to forge alliances for the District Coordination Committee polls.

Leaders of the regional parties said the proposal was positive though Dahal has yet to make a concrete move.

Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav said Dahal’s proposal was positive though the Maoist Centre has not proposed discussion on the idea yet.

Nepal Loktantrik Forum leader Ram Janam Chaudhary said Dahal’s approach was to the RJP-N but his party would also be ready to discuss the matter if the Maoist Centre comes up with a proposal.

Accompanied by senior leaders Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Ram Bahadur Thapa, Chairman Dahal is in Janakpur, where the three leaders oriented Maoist cadres on matters related to the upcoming polls.