BAGLUNG, Oct 31: The political equation of Nepal took a different course when CPN-UML joined hands with CPN (Maoist Center) to form the leftist alliance and agreed to party unification in the near future. The communist forces in the country grew in strength with that decision, and probably for the first time wielded enough power to challenge democratic forces in areas dominated by Nepali Congress (NC), which has historically remained the largest party of Nepal so far.