Historic Constituent Assembly polls in Nepal tomorrow

Kathmandu, Apr 9 (UNI) Election Commission of Nepal has said all the preparations for the Constituent Assembly polls for April 10 have been completed.

Ballot boxes have been sent to all the constituencies, employees deputed and all necessary preparations have been completed, it added.

Despite the killing of seven Maoists cadres and one candidate in western Nepal last night, there were no major election related violence across the country.

Election in constituency number 1 in Surkhet district would be postponed due to the death of candidate, the Nepal EC informed.

The Maoists cadres were killed during the firing between them and the security forces, who were deputed to provide security to the Nepali Congress candidate and former minister Khum Bahadur in Dang district.

After the incident, Nepalese prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala called the chiefs of the security forces and urged to beef up security in view of the election to be held tomorrow.

Mr Koirala has also urged the Maoists to exercise restraint.

Maoists chairman Mr Prachand met Mr Koirala and requested him to take strong action against those involved in the killing.

Mr Prachanda in a statement appealed his party cadres and civilians ''to make Thursday's CA polls a success by converting the sadness over the killing into firm determination and restraint.'' Over 300 international election observers including former US president Jimmy Carter and MPs of various countries will monitor the election in 240 constituencies in Nepal.

There are thousands of national and local level election observers across the country. A total of 17.6 million voters are eligible to caste their votes.

According to the Nepal election commission, more than 234,000 employees and 135,000 security personnel will be involved in the election.

A total of 601 members including 240 elected directly, will write a new constitution of the Himalayan nation.

The CA will also decide the future of monarchy, which has ruled over 240 years. However, all the major political parties have said that they would go for republic system.

The Nepali Congress, CPN, UML, Maoists among others have said their policy would be to establish democratic republic system in the Himalayan nation.

UNI XC RJ BD1630