Kathmandu, July 9 -- In January, when the federal government considered amending the electoral law to increase the minimum vote percentage needed to secure seats under the proportional representation system, Madhesh-based parties tried to form a loose alliance and counter a possible raise of the bar.

However, in a matter of months, a rift has appeared in the alliance with dispute over which party's candidate is to be fielded in the Rupandehi-3 by-election scheduled for November 3.

The regional forces, which have seen several unifications and splits in the past, had been trying to reunite since last January.

Advocating for an alliance, they claimed that the major parties were trying to sideline smaller forces and impose a 'two-party dom...