Kathmandu, October 15
The Baburam Bhattarai-led Naya Shakti Party Nepal has approached the ruling Nepali Congress party to discuss the possibility of forming an election alliance between the two parties.
On Friday, Bhattarai had exited the leftist alliance of CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre after the alliance did not approve his claim for Gorkha Constituency 2. Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha is planning to contest in that constituency from the alliance.
Therefore, Bhattarai met Congress President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today and requested him to extend support to him in the constituency. Bhattarai assured that his party would support Congress candidates in other constituencies if he received the Congress support in Gorkha-2.
Deuba is positive about the proposal though a final decision is yet to be made, according to a leader privy to the discussion.
However, Congress leader Kamal Panta says she is planning to file her candidacy in the constituency. She adds that she will not leave the constituency for Bhattarai and revolt against the party decision if the party leadership unilaterally makes the decision for partnership.
