Nepali Congress-Democratic leaders have asked the Nepali Congress top brass to take initiation for party unification to strengthen democratic process in the country, reports said.

During an interaction in the capital on Sunday, NC-D leaders stressed for conscientious merger of the two parties. “We want due respect and position after the unification,” reports quoted Bal Bahadur KC as saying. KC said an ideological base is needed for unification. He stated his party split due to NC leadership running the party on a personal level and claimed it was due to the NC split that the country faced political upheaval.

KC added election to the constituent assembly would be impossible before unification.

Speaking at the same program, Dhundiraj Shastri said, “Party unification is desirable but dissolution of NC-D into NC is unacceptable.”

“It will be wise to keep differences aside and decide on the issue of party unification before the constituent assembly elections,” Dr Narayan Khadka said. He called for an alliance of democratic forces hinting on the possible alliance of leftists. Disagreeing on Shastri’s view, Khadka said, “We want Girija Prasad Koirala to call publicly for party unification.”

The voices for party unification has been raised at a time NC-D remains undecided on the issue of ceremonial monarchy during the constituent assembly polls. NC president Koirala has already said NC favours ceremonial monarchy while UML and other leftists have announced their agenda for a democratic republic during the election.