KATHMANDU, Oct 7: Although the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) are in negotiations with the NC and UML-led alliance for electoral alliance, the two Madhes-centric parties have reached an understanding among themselves to forge electoral alliances in core Madhes constituencies on 50/50 basis.
A meeting held between the two parties on Friday also decided to forge alliance with other parties in the constituencies where they are relatively weak in Madhes districts.
RJPN wary as left and FSFN in power-sharing talks
“For now, we have reached an understanding to field common candidates in core Madhes constituencies in the upcoming federal and provincial elections. We have also decided to forge electoral alliance with other parties as deemed necessary in other constituencies,” said RJPN leader Keshav Jha.
There are a total 78 federal election constituencies in 20 Madhes districts. Except for about 15 constituencies where the Madhes-based parties are relatively weak, the two parties have reached an informal understanding to share the electoral constituencies based on each other’s strengths.
Sources said the two parties have reached an understanding to share constituencies on 50/50 basis in Province 2, while the FSFN will get 60 percent and RJPN 40 percent constituencies in Province 5. The two parties will support other parties in the rest of the constituencies based on the agreement reached on electoral alliance.
Madhes-based parties have concluded that the decision of the CPN (Maoist Center) to ally with the CPN-UML in the upcoming elections will directly benefit them. The Maoist Center, which achieved relatively better results in Province 2 in recently held local level polls, may no longer get the same results given the less popularity that UML enjoys in the region.
The decision of the two parties to forge electoral alliance has put both the leftist and ‘democratic’ alliances in tricky position. Interestingly, the Upendra Yadav-led FSFN is involved in negotiations with both the alliances, apparently to secure more in bargain.
