CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre), who are jointly contesting the federal parliamentary and provincial assembly elections by forming a left alliance, organised a grand election assembly at Naya Baneshwor area of Kathmandu, one of the busiest junctions of the capital city, on Tuesday.

The mass assembly was held in the northern side of Baneshwor Chok, adjacent to the Parliament building, where hundreds of party supporters and people thronged from various places. The traffic movement along Old Baneshwor and New Baneshwor road section came to a grinding halt as the left bloc leaders addressed the rally.

Hundreds of people heading for their destinations were left in lurch as they unexpectedly encountered the mass assembly.  People travelling through Naya Baneshwor, Purano Baneshwor and Anamnagar were forced to change their route as around 300 metre stretch of the road was blocked due to the rally.

The road was blocked from early morning today, though the programme convened late. As a result, vehicles were stuck on all the roads connecting Naya Baneshwor.

“The afternoon was somewhat tolerable as the commuters could take alternative routes but the evening was worse with the beginning of traffic rush hour,” said Ushan Rajbhandari, a worker at a Naya Baneshwor-based company.  

According to the Election Code of Conduct, 2074, section 4, the Election Commission has clearly barred holding rally, mass assembly, meeting, gathering or promotional programmes by disrupting public movement.

"No  procession  or  mass  meeting,  rally,  assembly,  gathering  or  campaign shall be organised or cause to be organised by causing obstruction to public transportation," states the code of conduct.

CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli and party’s senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, Maoist Centre leader Janardhan Sharma, Kathmandu Metropolis Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya were present on the ocassion.

Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was expected to arrive to address the rally but he could not make it due to busy schedule.

Political observers have speculated that Kathmandu Constituency-1 will yield unexpected results this time with a tough trilateral competition for federal parliament seat.

Nepali Congress candidate Prakash Man Singh, son of veteran democracy fighter Ganesh Man Singh, Bibeksheel Sajha Party candidate Rabindra Mishra, a former chief of BBC Nepali service, and Anil Sharma, brother of Maoist Centre leader Janardhan Sharma, are in the fray.

CPN-UML has a historic record from Kathmandu’s constituency 1 as their popular leaders Madan Bhandari and Manmohan Adhikari had won elections from this constituency in the past. Likewise, President Bidya Devi Bhandari was also elected from the same constituency in the past election.

The first phase of elections concluded on November 27. The second phase elections will be held in 42 districts of the country including the Capital city Kathmandu on December 7.

Photos: Prakash Chandra Timilsena