Kathmandu, Jan. 7 -- A new political equation has emerged for the National Assembly elections after the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML failed to reach a seat-sharing agreement with the Nepali Communist Party.

On Tuesday, the parties had reached an understanding to allocate seven seats each to the Congress and the UML, three to the NCP, and one to the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Nepal/Janata Samajbadi Party, Nepal. The deal collapsed after the NCP demanded at least four seats, saying it needed the number to manage its intra-party dynamics.

On December 28, leaders from the Janata Samajbadi Party, Nepal, led by Upendra Yadav, and the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Nepal, of Mahantha Thakur, announced they had reunified their parties-the two ...