‘If problems appear in some local units, alliance members will have friendly competition’

Maoist Centre leader Barsha Man Pun speaks on the electoral alliance of ruling parties for local elections, and the economy.

Despite complications the five parties in the ruling coalition are struggling to make their electoral alliance a success and have developed a set of criteria for an alliance at the local level for the upcoming May 13 local polls. One of the influential leaders of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), Barshaman Pun is also the member of the alliance’s Election Preparation and Monitoring Committee led by senior Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel. Pun, who is also a former finance minister, spoke to the Post’s Tika R Pradhan on issues of the electoral alliance, economic crisis and action against the governor. Excerpts: