Nepali Congress and Nepal Democratic Forum unified

KATHMANDU: The main ruling party, Nepali Congress, and Nepal Democratic Forum have announced their unification in Kathmandu, on Monday.

Prime Minister and NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Forum Chairperson Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar signed on the agreement letter amidst a special function organised at the official residence of the Prime Minister at Baluwatar today to announce the merger between the two parties.

On the occasion, PM Deuba expressed the view that merger among democratic parties under the leadership of NC would strengthen democracy in the country.

Welcoming the leaders and cadres of Forum in the NC, PMĀ  said, "Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar is a leader of NC. He will remain in leadership role."

Similarly, NC senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel said the situation of merger among democratic forces under NC leadership was generated after polarisation spurred by some leftist parties distracting from democracy.

Paudel also praised the efforts of leader Gachchhadar's role in strengthening nationality.

During the address, Gachchhadar seemed emotional while recalling the day he decided to break away from the Nepali Congress.

He expressed his hope that the unification between two political parties would make two party leaders and cadres happy and the NC-led democratic alliance would garner majority in the upcoming elections.

NC leader Mahesh Acharya, informing the programme about the integration between two political parties, said a process had begun to bring all democratic forces together to increase the acceptability of the constitution.

Democratic Forum leader and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Jitendra Narayan Dev, read out the agreement letter about the unification between two parties.

The unification was needed to make the constitution enforcement effective, further consolidate the base of democracy and to address the issues concerning Madhesi, Tharu, indigenous nationalities, marginalised and women at the backdrop when attempts were being made to push the country's politics towards totalitarianism, the agreement paper reads.

There is the agreement to allocate appropriate position for the Forum and its sister organisation's structure and members in the NC organisational structure from ward to central level.

Leader from both the sides were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Nepal Samata Party has merged with the NC today itself. Prime Minister and party President Deuba formally welcomed Samata Party's chair Ang Dendi Sherpa and general secretary Bikram Bahadur Kunwar among others to the party.

Likewise, Rastriya Janata Party assistant general secretary Dilip Dhadewa and Rastriya Prajatantra Party regional chair Pushpa Bahadur Chauhan entered the NC today itself.

The Akhanda Party Nepal merged with the NC yesterday.

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