KATHMANDU, June 9: In yet another merger among Madhes-based parties in the run up to the second phase of the local elections, the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) has been united with the Nepal Sadbhawana Party led by Sarita Giri.
Leaders of the two parties have agreed to retain the name Federal Socialist Forum Nepal as the official name of the merged entity.
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The unification, announced amid a formal function organized in the capital on Friday, is likely to bolster the performance of the party in the second phase of the local elections, which are slated for June 28.
Though the Giri-led party does not have representation in parliament, it has sporadic support base in various tarai districts.
FSFN Co-chairman Rajendra Shrestha said that the party is looking for similar merger or alliance with other like-minded parties.
"There would be merger or working alliance with like-minded forces," said Shrestha.
Friday's merger between the two parties is the latest in a series of merger among fringe regional parties. In April, six Madhesi parties had united to form the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal.
Similarly, Nepal Loktantrik Forum (NLF) led by Bijaya Kumar Gachhadhar had also separately merged with Bhanu Ram Tharu-led Tharuhat Tarai Party Nepal, Janamukti Party-Democratic (JPL-D) and Dalit Janajati Party Nepal (DJPN).
Besides mergers, Upendra Yadav-led FSPN is also working to forge electoral alliance with Bijaya Kumar Gachhadhar's NLF.
"The electoral alliance is in the final stages. We are working on the details of merger," said NLF General Secretary Ram Janam Chaudhary.
