An explosion shook the election campaign rally of the ruling Nepal Communist Party at Pradarshani Kendra in Pokhara Metropolitan City on Wednesday afternoon. Although no was injured in the blast, the explosion caused damage to a nearby parked bus.

Security has been increased in and around the area following the explosion, although police said that they have not been able to establish who carried out the explosion. No group has claimed responsibility.

Deputy parliamentary party leader of the Nepal Communist Party Subash Chandra Nembang was addressing the rally when the explosion took place. Other leaders of the ruling party, including co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal and former Home Minister Bamdev Gautam were scheduled to address the programme.

Ruling party cadres had converged in Pokhara from around the district to attend the rally, organised just ahead of the by-elections that are slated for November 30. The party has fielded Bidhya Bhattarai, the widow of late lawmaker Rabindra Adhikari, to contest the election from Kaski Constituency-2 for a seat in the federal parliament.

The constituency has been vacant since Adhikari died in a helicopter crash on February 27.