Major political parties have finalised their seat-sharing deals with their respective electoral partners for the federal and provincial polls scheduled for November 20.

The Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal that struck a deal with the CPN-UML has secured the latter’s support for 17 federal seats and 42 provincial constituencies. In return, the Madhes-based party will support the UML in 35 federal seats and 70 provincial constituencies. In other constituencies, both the parties will field their own candidates and compete independently.

On the other hand, the alliance led by the ruling Nepali Congress has agreed to support another Madhes-based party, Loktantrik Samajbadi in seven federal and 16 provincial seats.

Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, led by Mahantha Thakur, started negotiations with the ruling alliance only after the Janata Samajbadi sided with the UML.

“Yes, we have reached an agreement,” confirmed Laxman Lal Karna, a leader of the Loktantrik Samajbadi.

The Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal had started discussions for an electoral alliance with the UML after the Nepali Congress-led alliance refused to meet its demands. Earlier, the party had laid claim to 25 seats while negotiating with the Congress-led alliance.

As per the agreement struck on Saturday, the UML will support Janata Samajbadi in Saptari 1, 2 and 4; Siraha 2 and 4; Dhanusha 1; Mahottari 3 and 4; Sarlahi 1 and 4; Rautahat 2; Bara 2; Parsa 1 and 2; Rupandehi 4; Morang 5; and Sunsari 1.

The Janata Samajbadi will back the UML in Saptari 3; Siraha 1 and 3; Dhanusha 3 and 4; Mahottari 1; Sarlahi 2 and 3; Rautahat 3 and 4; Bara 1 and 4; Parsa 3 and 4; Nawalparasi (Paschim) 1 and 2; Rupandehi 1, 2 and 3; Kapilvastu 1, 2 and 3; Kailali 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; Morang 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6; and Sunsari 2, 3 and 4.

For the provincial polls, the Janata Samajbadi will get 42 seats. According to the agreement, the UML will get 70 seats for the provincial election in return.

The two parties have also forged an understanding to field their own candidates in other constituencies. The parties have pledged to extend the cooperation beyond the elections.

The Election Commission has set October 9 as the deadline for the nomination of candidates under the first-past-the-post category, prompting the political parties to expedite their preparations.

Rakam Chemjong, a Janata Samajbadi leader, said there was also a chance of internal cooperation in a few other constituencies apart from the agreed ones.

Janata Samajbadi chair Upendra Yadav is contesting the elections from Saptari-2, according to party insiders.

“We are satisfied with the agreement. It reflects the party’s formal decision,” said Manish Suman, the party spokesperson.

Though the Janata Samajbadi ditched the Congress-led coalition in favour of a tie-up with the UML, the party is yet to decide if it will stay in the government. Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Mohammad Ishtiyaq Rayi, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Mrigendra Kumar Singh, Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Rajendra Shrestha and Minister for Forest and Environment Pradeep Yadav are Janata Samajbadi members.

Janata Samajbadi leaders say they are still in the government and have no plans to quit. “It is incorrect to think that a party that is not in an electoral alliance with the ruling alliance has to quit the government,” Suman told the Post.