The Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) has decided to field senior leader Rajendra Mahato for the upcoming by-election in Bara constituency-2.

Mahato will be contesting against Janata Samajbadi Party chair Upendra Yadav and Shiv Chandra Kushwaha of the Janamat Party.

Kushwaha quit CPN (Maoist Centre) to join the Janamat Party on Wednesday after he was offered the ticket for the by-elections.

Mahato, who had contested in the previous election held on November 20 from Sarlahi-2, had been defeated by Mahindra Raya Yadav of the Nepal Samajbadi Party. Yadav had contested the election under the election symbol of CPN (Maoist Centre).

“The Janamat Party had previously said that they would help LSP. If a prominent leader like Mahato contests the election, Janamat Party will be able to effectively help the party,” said Keshav Jha, executive member of the LSP.

The Janata Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party, and the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party have been in talks to form a working alliance. However, no discussions have been held in the context of the election.

The Nepali Congress, which has decided to field former student-wing president Govinda Bhattarai from Tanahun-1 and former district president Jeet Narayan Shrestha from Chitwan-2 for the by-elections, has decided to support JSP candidate Upendra Yadav in Bara-2.