Kathmandu December 31

As the left alliance is courting Naya Shakti Party-Nepal and Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal for merger, NSP-N Coordinator Baburam Bhattarai and FSF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav  have said they would consider joining the alliance only if it agrees to drop the ‘communist’ tag and adopt ‘socialist’ label.

CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal today requested Bhattarai to join the mother party, while CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli had a few days ago urged Yadav to join the alliance.

According to CPN-MC leader Devendra Poudel, who worked with both Bhattarai and Yadav when he was with the NSP-N, Bhattarai and Yadav want the ‘communist tag’ removed when a new party is formed after the merger.

“Both Bhattarai and Yadav do not want a communist party, but a socialist party,” Poudel said, adding that the alliance would try to convince the leaders and bring them to join the alliance.

Poudel had also met Bhattarai yesterday to discuss the issue. Bhattarai and Yadav both come from communist background.

NSP-N leader Hisila Yami, who had accompanied Bhattarai, said the two discussed issues related to government formation. “Dahal also requested Bhattarai to join the CPN-MC as both now have the same political agenda of stability and prosperity.”

Yami said Bhattarai had reached Dahal’s residence to congratulate him on his election victory.