Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal has rejected UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli's proposal for coordination in Jhapa-5 for the upcoming House of Representatives member elections.

Oli and NCP Coordinator Dahal had a telephone conversation regarding the election coordination. However, Agni Sapkota, Coordinator of the NCP's Election Campaign Committee, said that coordination was not possible as their candidates had already nominated and started campaigning in 164 constituencies. 'The proposal for coordination has come from the UML. We have already nominated candidates in 164 constituencies and started campaigning on a war footing.' That is why the NCP will not coordinate with anyone now, he said.

Ranjit Tamang, former president of Akhil Krantikari, has contested from the NCP in Jhapa-5. After the discussion of coordination between the UML and the NCP, NCP Coordinator Dahal has made it clear that there will be no coordination with any party now. Stating that there will be no coordination with the NCP, UML and other parties, he has instructed the Election Mobilization Committees of the 164 constituencies to conduct a door-to-door campaign extensively.

Addressing the election mobilization committees of all districts through a 'virtual' medium, Dahal said that there should be no confusion about coordination with parties including the UML. He said that attempts were being made to create confusion against the NCP by promoting coordination and instructed them to be committed to winning the party's candidates. 'We have fielded candidates in 164 constituencies. There will be no coordination with anyone. There will be no coordination with those who are rejected by the people and with the tendencies of the Zelens,' he said, 'Encouraging reports have come from all constituencies. We have seen the possibility of becoming the first party.'

After the discussion of coordination between the UML and the NCP, Dahal has urged his candidates to win in a virtual address. Dahal has been left stranded after the UML agreed to support the Pralopa candidate in Rukum East, where he is a candidate. Former Maoist Deputy General Secretary Janardan Sharma had fielded Sandeep Pun as a candidate against Dahal, who became a candidate in a relatively safe area. Dahal was suspicious after UML made Rukum East candidate Leelamani Gautam 'inactive' and supported Pun.

The UML has proposed an alliance targeting Oli's constituency. However, the UML has fielded candidates in 164 constituencies for the House of Representatives. In Rukum West, the UML has supported Progressive Democratic Party (Pralopa) candidate Janardan Sharma. The UML's decision to support Pralopa's candidate Sandeep Pun in Rukum East has been withdrawn after the district committee did not agree. UML has its own candidates in all other constituencies. Oli has been challenged by the nomination of senior leader Balendra Shah of the National Independent Party in Jhapa-5. After that, the UML has put forward a proposal for an electoral alliance.

UML Vice President and Coordinator of the Election Mobilization Committee Ram Bahadur Thapa has been saying that there can be cooperation between the parties that stand against the incident of 24 Bhadra. ‘According to the party’s policy, wherever there are political parties that are ready to go against those who are burning the country, cooperation in the constituencies is possible, keeping in mind the interests of both parties,’ he had said at a press conference on Wednesday, ‘Cooperation can take place in the constituencies according to such a win-win policy.’

Thapa, referring to the incidents of 23 and 24 Bhadra, said that the policy is to form an alliance ‘against those who are burning the country’. ‘The party has a clear policy that cooperation in the constituencies can be done with other political parties that are going against or opposing those who are burning the country,’ Thapa said, ‘There are political parties that are ready to go against those who are burning the country, cooperation in the constituencies is possible, keeping in mind the interests of both parties.’ He said that even if the parties have nominated direct candidates, there is a possibility of coordination until the day of the election.

‘Various parties have nominated candidates, but efforts will continue from all sides for cooperation before 21 Falgun and an agreement may be reached in such places at the last minute,’ he said, ‘It reflects the opposition’s efforts for unity or regional coordination in the current political situation in Nepal.’