Two Madhes-based parties—the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal and the Nepal Loktantrik Forum—have geared up their preparations for the second phase of local level elections in Kapilvastu district.

The parties are busy selecting their candidates from the lower committees. The SSF-N has almost completed picking the nominees. The SSF-N has forged an electoral alliance with the Naya Shakti Party.

The Forum Loktantrik has also finalised the candidates in half the areas.

The parties are canvassing for votes with commitments to making the Madhesi people more powerful.

Three local party leaders have defected to other parties to become mayoral candidates.