JANAKPUR, August 4: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Friday said that the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) will participate in the third phase of local elections scheduled for September 18. 

PM Deuba, who is also the president of Nepali Congress, informed that back-door negotiations are underway with the RJPN leaders and the row over constitution amendment bill will be resolving by putting it to a vote. 

"Demands raised by the RJPN have been addressed. The government is ready to forward the constitution amendment bill with their consent. So, there isn't any pretext to stay away from the polls," said PM Deuba, who was here to address poll rallies.

Another Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel said his party has taken CPN-UML as a major competitor in the elections. "We will mobilize our full strength to defeat UML in the upcoming elections," said Poudel, adding, "Since the UML is anti-Madhesi force, people have no other alternative than Congress." 

The Election Commission is conducting the third phase of local elections in eight districts of Province 2. The UML has emerged as the largest force in the first and second rounds of elections. 

NC General Secretary Shashank Koirala claimed that his party will emerge as the largest political force securing victory in most of the local units of Province 2. "No force can defeat Nepali Congress except internal betrayal. The upcoming election has become a matter of prestige for the party," said General Secretary Koirala.

 
• rastriya janata party nepal (rjpn)
 
• prime minister sher bahadur deuba
 
• nepali congress leader ram chandra poudel
 
• nc general secretary shashank koirala