Though a broader Nepali Congress-led “democratic alliance” failed to take shape, the NC has managed to rope in the Kamal Thapa-led Rastriya Prajatantra Party despite differences over electoral alliance in Jhapa 3.

Coalition partners NC and the Thapa-led RPP have finally agreed to share constituencies between themselves even as the Congress has announced to field Krishna Prasad Sitaula in the Jhapa seat.

As per the agreement, the NC will support the RPP in seven seats of federal parliament while discussions are ongoing over the actual number of seats that the RPP gets in provincial assembly elections. 

In case of Jhapa-3, the RPP has already mandated its district chapter to consult with other parties for support. RPP leaders have said their party has ended its alliance with the NC only in Jhapa-3 but the arrangement would remain elsewhere in the country.

Against the stance of Prime Minster Sher Bahadur Deuba to support RPP candidate Rajendra Lingden in Jhapa-3, senior Congress leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula refused to budge from his position of contesting election from the same constituency. Sitaula was previously nominated for the Proportional Representation category of elections.

“In case of Jhapa, there will be no ties with the NC but discussions are ongoing about forging electoral alliances in other constituencies,” RPP senior leader Sushil Kumar Shrestha told the Post. 

“The NC will support its candidates in Makawanpur-1, Kathmandu-7, Banke, Dailekh and some other districts.”

A “concrete agreement” would be reached by Monday. Since the NC has been unable to strike a deal with the Madhes-based parties, chances of a broader alliance of “democratic” forces appear remote. It looks like the NC will be fighting against the left alliance in a majority of the constituencies alone.

When the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) announced their alliance on October 2 with the ultimate goal of party unification, the ruling Nepali Congress rushed to cobble a “democratic” alliance with like-minded forces. The NC, along with five fringe parties, did form a taskforce to work on the alliance but there has not been a tangible progress.

Sources said the chances of electoral alliance between the NC and the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal and Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum, Nepal have diminished. However, the three forces could agree to support some top leaders on both sides. Beyond that, chances of alliance are almost over, said NC leader Bal Krishna Khand.

The Congress party is supporting Naya Shakti Party, Nepal coordinator Baburam Bhattarai in Gorkha-2 while also allying with the RPP-Prajatantrik. RPP-P leader Pashupati Shumsher Rana will get the NC’s backing in Sindhupalchok-2.