Nepal: Fringe party agrees to join Constituent Assembly polls

Nepal's four major political forces and a key opposition party have reached a deal ensuring the latter's participation in the Constituent Assembly elections in November.
The deal was inked yesterday after the High Level Political Committee (HLPC) representing the four main political parties agreed to fulfil two major demands of the opposition Federal Socialist Party (FSP), according to FSP sources.
As per the agreement the two sides agreed to retain 601-strong Constituent Assembly.
The two sides have also agreed to hold an all-party conference with the participation of all political groups represented in the dissolved Constituent Assembly to discuss contentious political issues.

Earlier, the HLPC had inked a deal with a five-party opposition alliance led by Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum Nepal to take part in the November 19 polls.
After these deals, the possibility of all the agitating fringe parties joining the Constituent Assembly polls has become imminent.

Among the agitating parties belonging to the 33-strong alliance, only the Mohan Vaidya-led CPN-Maoist, breakaway faction of the UCPN-Maoist, is sticking to its stance of boycotting the polls.
The interim government and the major political parties have addressed almost all the demands put forth by the disgruntled parties in a bid to bring all of them into the election fold.

Two key demands of CPN-Maoist include convening a round table conference and resignation of the Khil Raj Regmi-led interim election government.
However, CPN-Maoist is still undecided on taking part in the polls.
Meanwhile, senior leaders of the HLPC have intensified talks with the CPN-Maoist in a bid to secure their participation.