The CK Raut-led Janmat Party and the Ranjita Shrestha-led Nagarik Unmukti Party today reached a 12-point deal for functional unity with the aim of increasing their bargaining power ahead of the Cabinet expansion, as well as Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's vote of confidence in the House of Representatives.

Both the parties are partners in the seven-party alliance led by the CPN-Maoist Centre and have said that they will join the government if their demands are met.

The two parties have made the release of Resham Chaudhary and other 'political prisoners' convicted in Kailali carnage as the top agenda. NUP chair is the spouse of Resham Chaudhary.

The two parties have signed the deal at a time when other parties are holding talks for possible unity among like-minded parties. The CPN-MC, the CPN (US), and the Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal have all formed talks teams to explore the possibility of merger. Former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai, who leads the Nepal Samajbadi Party, has said that socialist forces should come together.

The 12-point deal between the Janmat Party and the NUP could eventually lead to their merger. NUP lawmaker and Resham Chaudhary's father Lalbir Chaudhary told THT that the two parties collaboration could lead to unity in the long run. "We have decided to collaborate both in the federal Parliament and provincial assemblies as we have similar views on some issues. Our collaboration may unify the two parties," Lalbir said.

The Janmat Party won six seats in the HoR - one under the firstpast-the-post election system and three under the proportional representation election system - whereas the NUP won four parliamentary FPTP seats.

Both the parties have already extended their support to the Dahal government and the Janmat Party has also sent one of its lawmakers as a minister in the new Cabinet.

The two parties have agreed that they would support each other in provinces as well. As per their understanding, the Janmat Party will take the initiative to lead the provincial government in Madhes and the NUP in Lumbini and Sudurpaschim provinces – with each other's support. NUP has seven seats in Sudurpaschim, where no party has won majority; the NUP has four seats in Lumbini and Janmat has three seats; and Janmat has 13 seats in Madhes, whereas the NUP has one seat.

Lalbir said the two parties' combined strength made them decisive forces in Madhes, Lumbini, and Sudurpaschim.

The agreement

• The two parties will take immediate steps to secure the release of Resham Chaudhary and other political prisoners convicted in the Kailali carnage

• They will work for securing the passage of Criminal Code (Amendment) Ordinance in the Parliament and its effective implementation

• They will work for securing the release of Lal Commission report

• They will pressure the government to withdraw false cases filed against cadres of both parties

• They will work for implementing the 11-point agreement signed between the government and the erstwhile Alliance for Independent Madhes on 8 March 2019

• They will pressure the government to pass the citizenship bill brought by the previous government

• They will take the initiative to amend several discriminatory and flawed articles of the constitution

• They will take the initiative to address farmers' problems

• They will pressure the government to address concerns of indigenous nationalities, women, Madhesis, Dalits, Muslims, Tharus, OBCs, and other marginalised groups

• They will raise voice against corruption and in support of good governance from the government, the Parliament, and the streets

• They will jointly work to ensure citizens' rights related to food, clothing, education, health, and employment

• They will seek assurances from the key partners of the ruling alliance to address issues raised by the two parties before deciding to join federal and provincial governments