The ruling party Nepali Congress (NC) has said that it will push for a broader ‘democratic alliance’ to counter the left alliance of CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre) and Naya Shakti Party-Nepal. The ruling party reiterated its commitment of holding the scheduled provincial and federal parliament elections on November 26 and December 7.

On a hectic day dominated by the alliance of two leftist parties, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who is also the president Nepali Congress, held an informal meeting with fellow party leaders to review the latest political development. 

On Tuesday the UML, the MC and the Naya Shakti agreed to an electoral alliance, paving the way for a party unification. 

Reacting to the development, the NC said the decision taken by its coalition partner Maoist Centre “unexpected and unusual”. 

The NC also blamed the main opposition CPN-UML is making efforts to topple the government before provincial and federal parliamentary elections. 

“The party has concluded that it should work to forge an electoral alliance with like-minded democratic forces of the country,” said Prakash Sharan Mahat, Congress central committee leader and close Deuba aide.

The meeting of the Congress top brass also decided to expedite talks with the democratic parties for a possible electoral alliance.

Mahat hinted that the NC will soon begin a process of forming a broader democratic alliance to consolidate the democratic forces. 

“We had forged the alliance with the Maoist party with a long-term purpose and vision. But Dahal preferred to go with the UML. It is an unexpected and abnormal political development,” said Mahat. But he maintained that the NC is fully prepared and capable to take on the newly-formed alliance of the left parties. 

“This development will make our party more united and democratic forces will come together.”

Despite Maoist Centre’s renewed assurance, the NC camp seemed to have been gripped by fears that the main opposition UML would try to topple the government before the elections. 

Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the PM held a couple of rounds of talks on Tuesday where the former assured Deuba that his party would continue its support to the government until the completion of federal and parliamentary elections. 

In the meeting, Deuba and senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel tried to convince Dahal to continue the ongoing alliance between the two parties into the elections. “We requested them to continue the alliance but he turned down the offer,” said Poudel.