Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress (NC), the CPN-UML, and the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal have reached an electoral alliance for the National Assembly elections.
In line with the agreement, all three parties are preparing to register their candidacies. As per the election program published by the Election Commission, candidates have to file their nominations by 3 pm on Wednesday.
Earlier, the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) had also participated in the discussion on the electoral alliance. However, it withdrew at the last moment and decided to contest the election on its own.
A total of 19 National Assembly seats are becoming vacant on March 4. The election will fill 18 of those seats, while one will be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.
NC, UML, and JSP Nepal have shared 18 seats among themselves. As per the understanding, NC and UML will field candidates in nine and eight seats, respectively, while JSP Nepal will field its candidate in one seat.
JSP Nepal has already decided to filed the nomination of Mahantha Thakur.
The NC is fielding Sunil Bahadur Thapa from Koshi, Dhamendra Paswan and Ranjit Karn from Madhesh, Gita Devkota from Bagmati, Jagat Timilsina from Gandaki, Basudev Janagli and Chandra Bahadur KC from Lumbini Province, Lalit Jung Shahi from Karnali, and Khamma Bahadur Khati from Sudurpaschim Province.
Similarly, CPN-UML has picked Roshani Meche and Somanath Portel from Koshi Province, Rekha Jha from Madhesh Province, Prem Dangal from Bagmati, Smjhana Devkota from Gandaki, Ram Kumari Jhakri from Lumbini, Meena Rakhal from Karnali and Leela Bhandari from Sudurpaschim.
