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Stage set for last minute reshuffling of alliances ahead of presidential polls

After their bids to bag president were simultaneously rejected by the Maoists, the Nepali Congress (NC) and Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) have started getting cozy with Madhesi parties, particularly the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF).

The NC and UML’s efforts gained steam after the MJF walked out of its meeting with the Maoists, Friday, when the latter refused to support its candidate for vice president.

Exploring various permutations and combinations to cobble up a simple majority, the NC and UML leaders are also preparing to hold meeting with the Madhesi parties at 9 am, Saturday morning – two hours before the election for the president begins at the Constituent Assembly (CA).

Reports say that in what appears to be a reaction to what they have termed as Maoists’ ‘back-stabbing,’ the UML and NC have agreed to support each other’s candidate for the position of CA chairman and president, respectively.

As their total CA seats still falls short of simple majority, the two parties are trying to rope in the Madhesi parties by agreeing to a package of power-sharing formula based on which they would not only support MJF candidate for vice president but also divide key portfolios while forming the new government. If this package materialises, the Maoists may not be able to even form the government.

In any case, analysts say, the politics of understanding that started since the signing of the 12-point understanding in New Delhi in November of 2005 could be in serious jeopardy in the coming days. nepalnews.com sd Jul 19 08