The Nepal Loktantrik Forum faction led by its Co-chairman Shiva Lal Thapa has decided to contest the upcoming elections using “torch”, the electoral symbol of the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal. 

The Upendra Yadav-led SSF-N and the Thapa-led NLF agreed on Wednesday to form an electoral alliance.

Though NLF Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachhadar joined the Nepali Congress along with his supporters, Thapa did not merge with the ruling party. Leaders of the erstwhile Rastriya Janamukti Party (Loktan-trik), Dalit Janajati Party and Nepal Nagarik Party that joined the NLF in March are on Thapa’s side.