Kathmandu, June 7

Newly formed Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal has not yet registered itself with the Election Commission.

The EC said it would decide on its validity and the election symbol only if the party registers with it.

The EC, however, made it clear that the RJP-N could not get a new election symbol for the second phase of local level polls, as ballot papers of all districts had already been printed and supplied to respective districts. The second phase of local polls have been scheduled for June 28.

“They have to first register their party, then the EC will decide,” said Spokesperson for EC Surya Prasad Sharma. He said the new party had to submit all the required documents to apply for registration. According to Sharma, the poll panel requires documents like party’s manifesto and signatures of leaders and others to register the party. He said the RJP-N could contest the polls on the election symbol of any of the six parties that merged to create a unified RJP-N.

RJP-N leader Laxman Lal Karna said they had not registered the RJP-N with the EC mainly because they were yet to finalise the party’s official manifesto. “We could not prepare the party’s manifesto on time, as some of our top leaders are out of Kathmandu,” said Karna. He said RJP-N leaders would return to Kathmandu within a couple of days and would forge consensus on the party’s manifesto. “We will register our party at the EC soon,” he added. RJP-N leader Keshav Jha said the party could apply for registration next week.

According to Jha, the RJP-N is not in a hurry to register the party with the EC, as the party cannot get umbrella as its symbol even after registration according to election laws.

Six Madhes-based parties -- Mahantha Thakur-led Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, Rajendra Mahato-led Sadbhawana Party, Sharat Singh Bhandari-led Rastriya Madhes Socialist Party, Mahendra Yadav-led Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party-Nepal, Rajkishor Yadav-led Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Republican and Anil Jha-led Nepal Sadbhawana Party merged a few weeks ago to create a unified RJP-N.