A new political equation has emerged for the National Assembly elections after the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML failed to reach a seat-sharing agreement with the Nepali Communist Party.

On Tuesday, the parties had reached an understanding to allocate seven seats each to the Congress and the UML, three to the NCP, and one to the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Nepal/Janata Samajbadi Party, Nepal. The deal collapsed after the NCP demanded at least four seats, saying it needed the number to manage its intra-party dynamics.

On December 28, leaders from the Janata Samajbadi Party, Nepal, led by Upendra Yadav, and the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Nepal, of Mahantha Thakur, announced they had reunified their parties—the two major political forces in the Madhesh. They are in the process of finalising the unification process.

Following the deadlock, the Congress, UML and Madheshi parties reached a fresh agreement on Wednesday morning. Under the revised arrangement, the Congress will contest nine seats, the UML eight, and the JSP-N/LSP-N one. The LSP-N has recommended Mahanta Thakur as its candidate.

The UML has decided to field Roshni Meche and Som Portel from Koshi Province, Rekha Jha from Madhesh Province, Prem Dangal from Bagmati Province, and Samjhana Devkota from Gandaki Province as candidates for the National Assembly.

Likewise, the party has decided to nominate Ram Kumari Jhakri from Lumbini, Meena Rakhal from Karnali, and Lila Bhandari from Sudurpaschim Province. Meche is a personal secretary to UML chair and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, while Jhakri, a former minister, recently returned to the UML from the CPN (Unified Socialist).

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Congress Central Working Committee on Wednesday finalised the party’s candidates for the National Assembly from all seven provinces.

The party has recommended Sunil Bahadur Thapa from Koshi Province; Dharmendra Paswan and Ranjit Karna from Madhesh; Gita Devkota from Bagmati; Jagat Timilsena from Gandaki; Chandra Bahadur KC and Basudev Jangali from Lumbini; Lalitjung Shahi from Karnali; and Khamba Bahadur Khati from Sudurpaschim Province.

The Election Commission has scheduled candidate registration for today. Elections are being held for 18 seats on January 25, while one member will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the government.