KATHMANDU, Jan 4: The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has decided to field its candidate for the National Assembly election although the party's chances of winning any seat is almost nil.
The NC and the Samajbadi Party on Friday evening forged an electoral alliance in Province 2 to share two upper house seats each. Samajbadi will support NC's candidates from women and minority category while the NC will support Samajbadi's candidates from Dalit and other category.
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However, due to longstanding internal disputes, the opposition party has not been able hold a meeting and finalize candidates although the upper house election is fast approaching.
The Election Commission has scheduled Sunday as nomination date for the January 23 election for 18 upper house seats that are falling vacant from March 3. Given the majority of the ruling Nepal Communist Party in the electoral college of voters in six provinces and its election alliance with the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal in Province 2, the two parties are most likely to sweep the upper house election.
The opposition NC has 13 seats in the 59-member upper house while Samajbadi Party has two seats. The terms of seven NC members is expiring in March, which was decided by a lucky draw last year. NC is most likely to shrink to six seats after losing all seven seats in the upper house after March. Similarly Samajbadi Party is also likely to lose a seat as the party has slim chance of winning the vacant member's position again.
