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Kathmandu, Jan 25: The CPN-UML and the newly formed Pragatisheel Prajatantrik Party (Progressive Democratic Party) have agreed to coordinate in several constituencies of western Nepal, raising questions about the impact on the Nepali Communist Party led by Prachanda.

A three-point agreement signed by UML Vice Chair Ram Bahadur Thapa and Progressive Democratic Party Chair Durga Sob states that UML will support Progressive Democratic Party candidates in Rukum West and Rukum East.

In Rukum West, former finance minister Janardan Sharma is contesting from the Progressive Democratic Party. In the 2022 election, Sharma, then a Maoist candidate, defeated the UML nominee by a wide margin, securing 39,549 votes against UML’s Nanda Ram Sapkota, who received 12,961 votes. He also benefited from backing by Nepali Congress and Unified Socialist voters.

Political equations have since shifted. Sharma is no longer with the Maoists. Under the new deal, UML, which secured 8,769 proportional votes in Rukum West, will now support him. In Rukum East, Progressive Democratic Party candidate Sandip Pun will receive UML backing. UML had secured 3,659 proportional votes there.

Under the agreement, the Progressive Democratic Party will support UML candidates across Karnali Province except Humla and Jumla, and in districts of the former Rapti Zone.

In constituencies covered by the deal, UML won only Pyuthan in the last election and placed second in most others except Salyan. Several defeats were by slim margins.

In Dailekh 2, Congress candidate Dikpal Bahadur Shahi defeated UML’s Laxmi Prasad Pokhrel by 167 votes. In Dang 2, Maoist Centre’s Rekha Sharma beat UML leader Shankar Pokhrel by 193 votes. In Dailekh 1, Unified Socialist candidate Ammar Bahadur Thapa won with 18,297 votes, while UML’s Rabindra Raj Sharma secured 17,445.

The actual vote base of the new Progressive Democratic Party remains unclear. Even limited vote transfer could benefit UML in tightly contested constituencies nationwide.

People’s News Monitoring Service