Alliance patterns so far
In the run-up to the National Assembly polls, the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, a newly consolidated left front and Madhes-based parties agreed on a seat-sharing formula. Although the exact numbers differed by province, the pattern showed that rivals at the federal level can cooperate tactically when electoral math demands it.
Implications for March 5
Analysts suggest that these arrangements are an early test for broader pre-poll alliances in the House of Representatives race. For first-past-the-post constituencies, coordination between like-minded parties can be decisive in close contests. However, such alliances are harder to replicate under proportional representation, where each party also wants to maximise its own national vote share.
What to watch
Voters can expect intensified negotiations over the next fortnight as parties weigh local strengths, leadership ambitions and ideological compatibility. Any formal announcements on nationwide alliances or district-level seat-sharing will directly shape candidate choices in many constituencies.