Two months before the federal and provincial parliamentary elections, major leaders of the CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress are in Chitwan to attend their party programmes.

Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal and NC leader Gagan Thapa expressed their readiness on Tuesday to contest the upcoming elections scheduled to be held on November 26 and December 7.Maoist chief Dahal has announced his race in Chitwan-3 for the upcoming federal parliamentary elections. Addressing an interaction organised by the Chitwan chapter of Press Centre in Bharatpur, Dahal confirmed the party’s choice of his electoral constituency.

He said the party was mulling over forming electoral alliances with forces that share agendas with it. “Discussions are underway with all the parties,” Dahal said, adding that a decision was yet to be reached.Discussions were underway mainly with the Congress and the UML for probable alliances. The former prime minister said the Maoist party would have electoral alliances only with democratic republican forces.UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal stressed the need for unity among the leftist forces in the upcoming polls. Addressing an event organised by Press Chautari in Bharatpur, Nepal said the possibility was high of his party forging an alliance with the Maoists. “If the Maoist Centre is ready, then we are ready to forge an electoral alliance with the party,” Nepal said.

NC leader Thapa said he was ready to take leadership of Province 3 as the chief minister if the party makes him the candidate for the top provincial post. Speaking at an interaction organised by the Chitwan chapter of Press Union in Bharatpur on Tuesday, Thapa said the party should start campaigning for the two crucial elections by announcing the provincial leadership.