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Poll fever grips Mid-western region; violation of election code of conduct continues

Election fever has gripped the Mid-western region with political parties intensifying their publicity campaign.

All the political parties are holding door-to-door campaign and mass meetings for the CA polls.

Maoist chairman Prachanda, who is the center of attraction in this election, Saturday addressed a mass meeting in Rolpa, where he has filed his candidacy.

Addressing the mass meeting, he said that as Rolpa district had sacrificed a lot during the decade long 'people's war' need to make another sacrifice for the sake of peace. He further said that as the district is catching the attention of the world community, party cadres need to move ahead cautiously.

Prachanda had addressed a mass meeting in Pyuthan yesterday when he was on the way to Rolpa.

Meanwhile, reports of breach of election of code of conduct are coming from various districts of the region. In Bardiya district, Young Communist League (YCL) cadres have threatened to 'kill' two Nepali Congress supporters for not supporting the Maoist party.

A group of YCL cadres led by Khagendra Sarki warned Bhakta Bahadur Sharki and Rudra Bahadur BK of Sanoshree VDC-3 that they would lose their lives if they didn't vote for the Maoist party. Both the victims are affiliated with the youth wing of the NC. Locals said the Maoists have been carrying out torch rallies in the district almost every evening.

Similarly, in Rukum, Maoists have warned people of Magma, Atabishkot, Dandagaun, Gotamkot, Syalakhari VDCs not to work as agents of Nepali Congress at the polling booth on April 10, and not to support other political parties. Locals said they were compelled to support Maoists due to such threats.

Some locals said they were terrified because of Maoist threats, complaining that Maoist cadres have not stopped forceful activities during election time.

Despite repeated calls from Election Commission, the Maoists are yet to erase wall paintings in various districts of the region. Though these acts are against the election code of conduct and EC may slap a fine up to 100,000 rupees and even cancel the candidacy of the person involved in the breach of code of conduct, the EC is yet to take any such action. nepalnews.com Mar 15 08