Kathmandu, April 4

The Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic and Rastriya Janamukti Party have agreed to unify. The Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar-led MJF-D has 14 seats in the Parliament, while RJP Shiwalal Thapa-led RJP has two seats.

MJF-D Vice-chairman Ram Janam Chaudhary told this daily that the unified party’s name was likely to be — Nepal Loktantrik Forum; and MJF-D Chairman Gachhadar would lead it. The new party will also use the election symbol of the MJF-D, he added.

Chaudhary further said that merger between the two parties was possible in the context of the upcoming local level elections as well as the recently endorsed bills relating to political parties. The bill has set a threshold according to which, a party has to secure at least 3 per cent of the total votes as well as win one first past the post seat in the House to be recognised as a national party.

According him, RJP leader Thapa will be given the post of Vice-chairman of the new party, while other office bearers and central committee members of his party will be given the same post in the unified party as well.

Once unified, the new party would have as many as 170-central-committee members.