DHANGADI, JULY 11

CPN (Unified Socialist) Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal said there wouldn't be any unification with any party, including CPN-MC, before the polls.

"There is no need for anyone to increase their heartbeat over talks of a so-called unification with CPN-MC," said the CPN (US) chief, speaking at a press conference in Dhangadi today.

"There won't be any unification with any party at least before the election. We can't rule out discussions towards that end after the polls though," Nepal said.

Responding to a query about how long the existing coalition would last, the ruling coalition leader said, "As to how long the current coalition will last, I leave it to soothsayers. What I can say at least is that the coalition will remain as long as the House exists."

Speaking about his party's strategy for the upcoming election, the CPN (US) leader said his party would contest independently in places where there were chances of winning on its own strength and opt for respectful alliance elsewhere.

Nepal also informed about work to build the organisation of his party in all 753 local levels and their wards across the country.

When asked to comment on the demand for scrapping provinces, Nepal disavowed knowledge of such a demand from the public and stressed the need for all levels of government to work for the good of the people.

The former prime minister also ruled out the possibility of Nepal ending up in a situation where Sri Lanka is today, saying the existing economic crisis across the world is because of the Russia-Ukraine war.

A version of this article appears in the print on July 12, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.