The CPN-UML began its mid-hill-centric campaign by initiating a journey of the party leaders through the Mid-Hill Highway from Jhulaghat of Baitadi district on Thursday.

Party Chairman KP Sharma Oli kicked off the campaign with the slogan "local relation, national message', hoisting the national flag amid a function organised in the far-western district.

The party has announced plans to interact with the local communities in 26 districts connected by the Mid-Hill Highway. The CPN-UML said the journey from the far-western district will conclude at Chiwabhanjyang of Paanchthar district in the far-eastern part of the country.

"This journey across the hill districts will help interact with the general people at the grassroots and conduct an on-site study of local people’s issues," Oli said while inaugurating the event. "The knowledge gathered from such events will help a lot in policy making."

The former prime minister said UML leaders will hold dialogues with the people on the issues ranging from the prospects of development, aspirations of the youth, local production, employment, entrepreneurship and skill development.

The party's office bearers and senior leaders reached the remote district to attend the inaugural event.

The around 1776 km-long highway runs through 17 hill districts while the country's East-West Highway spans the southern belt from Jhapa to Kanchanpur over 1,000 kilometres.

The second-largest party in Parliament conducted a two-month-long 'mission grassroots' campaign earlier this year.