The Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi), a minor constituent of the ruling eight-party alliance, has formed a committee to negotiate with likeminded Madhesi groups, including the rival NSP led by former royalist minister Badri Mandal, for unification.

A meeting of the ‘national work performance committee’ of party on Wednesday formed a three-member committee led by central leader Anil Jha to hold talks with Mandal-led NSP, the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MFJ) and other parties representing the Madhesi community.

Jha told reporters after the meeting that the NSP (A) was seeking union among the parties working for the rights of Madhesis.

The NSP-Mandal is considered a pro-King party whereas the MJF has been agitating for a republic. Earlier known as an ‘NGO’, the MJF has already applied at the Election Commission for party registration to contest the upcoming constituent assembly polls.

According to Jha, the NSP (A) has asked the government to look into the demands of agitating Madhesi groups and has also urged the two factions of Terai Janatantrik Mukti Morcha to sit for dialogue with the government.