National
UML gunning for a left alliance
Having suffered a major setback in the third phase of local polls, the main opposition CPN-UML has decided to form a left alliance in the upcoming provincial and federal elections.Having suffered a major setback in the third phase of local polls, the main opposition CPN-UML has decided to form a left alliance in the upcoming provincial and federal elections.
A Standing Committee meeting of the UML chaired by Chairman KP Sharma Oli this week has decided to maintain efficient coordination with major left forces, including the CPN (Maoist Centre).
The UML, which garnered 294 mayoral seats to become the largest party in the local level, had largely contested solo in all three phases of the elections.
The party had formed an alliance with the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in some places in the first phase.
The decision of joining hands with the leftist forces, according to party sources, is in line with its objective of becoming the biggest political force by winning a maximum number of seats in the provincial and federal elections.
Identifying the Maoist Centre as a major political force in the left alliance, the UML has decided to prioritise the formation of alliance with it.
The Pushpa Kamal Dahal led Maoist Centre, had contested the first two rounds of local elections with its incumbent coalition partner Nepali Congress (NC).
The coalition partners, however, could not move hand in hand in the third phase of local elections in Province 2.
“We are determined to become the biggest political force post the upcoming elections. We have decided to form an alliance with parties that have similar ideology,” UML Spokesperson Yogesh Bhattarai said.
Bhattarai, however, added that the party is yet to take a final call on possibility of alliance with the Maoist Centre.
A section of leaders in both the UML and Maoist Centre are of the view that the alliance between the NC and the Maoist Centre should be broken for the formation of left alliance.
Meanwhile, the UML has started the process of selecting candidates for the upcoming elections.
A meeting of the regional coordination committee of the party is set to be held on Tuesday.
The meeting will recommend the names of candidates to the district committees. The process will be followed by a meeting of the district committees on October 5 and 6.
It will then recommend the names forwarded by the regional committees to the provincial committees which will register the names at the UML Party Office.
A Standing Committee meeting will take a final call based on that.