Kathmandu, May 20 :

The eight student unions today agreed to enter into a working alliance with the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R). Each member of the eight student unions also agreed to consult their respective union and mother party if needed.

During a meet held here today, the Maoists’ students body proposed the formation of a a joint student republican front in the near future to lead the nation towards a republican set up, which, the body said, would not be possible until the two NSUs also agreed to see eye to eye on the issue.

According to ANNISU-R President Lekhnath Neupane, the meet today agreed to establish a working alliance between the eight students’ unions and the ANNISU-R.

“The nine students’ union will soon meet after each student body discusses the issue individually. They will also consult their mother parties if needed,” he said.

NSU vice-president, Pradip Poudel, said the NSU would heartily welcome the ANNISU-R into the students’ alliance at a time when seven parties are working hand in hand with the Maoists.

Thakur Gaire, general secretary of ANNFSU, said it had already been three years since the ANNFSU decided to go for a republican set up. The meeting was held this evening at the new contact office of ANNISU-R.

President and the general secretary of All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) Khim

Lal Bhattarai and Thakur Gaire, respectively; and president of NC (D)-affiliated Nepal Students’ Union (NSU) Kishor Singh Rathore, all took part in the meet.

Secretary of CPN(ML)-affiliated ANNFSU Mahesh Devkota, general secretary of ANNFSU (Unified) Prakash Poudel, general secretary of NSU Badri Pandey, Saroj Gosain of Nepal Revolutionary Students Union and Ram Babu Yadav of Nepal Students Forum also attended the meet that was called by the ANNISU-R.