The Loktrantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) has requested the Nepali Congress to reach a national consensus on the name of party chair Mahanth Thakur as the candidate for President.

LSP leaders, in a meeting with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday, urged the latter to build a consensus for Thakur’s candidacy for the post.

LSP Chairman Thakur, along with senior leader Rajendra Mahato, leaders Sarbendranath Shukla, and Anil Kumar Jha among others had reached Deuba’s residence in Dhumbarahi.

During the meeting, LSP leaders had argued that Thakur was the most suitable candidate to forge consensus for the post.

“We proposed that our party chairman Mahanth Thakur be made President with national consensus so that all parties including the CPN-UML and the Congress will feel comfortable. His personality and contribution in national politics make him a suitable candidate for the post,” said Shukla, after the meeting.

According to Shukla, Deuba said that the party has so far not taken any decision on the matter and assured to float Thakur’s name for the discussion.

LSP leader Jha said that various aspects of the presidential election were discussed during the meeting.

“Discussions were held on all possibilities and possible scenarios of alliance formation. But we asked for the creation of an atmosphere of national consensus to make our chairman the President,” said Jha, “He did not give a definite answer to our proposal but has assured us that he will discuss it later in the party.”

With the presidential election nearing, LSP leaders have stepped up meetings with leaders of the top parties to lobby Thakur’s candidacy, citing that all parties would come to a consensus on Thakur for President.

Party leaders had previously met UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and proposed Thakur be made a candidate for the post of President by national consensus.