Nepal, Dec. 28 -- Efforts by Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah, aka Balen, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair Rabi Lamichhane, and Ujjyalo Nepal Party, backed by Energy Minister Kulman Ghising as its patron, to form a formidable alternative political force appear increasingly slim, following Ujjyalo Nepal Party's rejection of a proposed party unification framework.

The setback comes despite a series of high-level political engagements among the three leaders, who are often viewed as leaders of emerging alternative forces to Nepal's traditional parties.

Earlier, RSP chair Lamichhane had floated a power-sharing proposal to Balen under which 25 percent of seats would go to Balen, 25 percent to Ghising, 10 percent to Gen Z r...