Normal life was thrown out of gear across Nepal today as 44 different parties, including CPN-Maoist, imposed a general strike to protest the announcement of the date of new Constituent Assembly polls.
Private and public vehicles have remained off the roads, and the market areas are closed. Schools, colleges and other businesses also have been affected due to the bandh.
Some 30 political parties including CPN-Maoist led by Mohan Vaidya and Federal Socialist Party led by Ashok Rai launched the strike as part of their move to oust the chief justice Khil Raj Regmi led government and dissolution of the four party political mechanism formed to guide and direct the election government led by Regmi.
The government on Thursday announced November 19 as the date for holding fresh Constituent Assembly elections.
Hardliner Maoist leader Vaidya has also warned to boycott the elections. So far, the strike was largely peaceful across the country.
Security personnel have been deployed to prevent possible untoward situations.
The agitating parties have been calling for annulment of 11-point pact signed among the major four parties and 25-point proposal on removing the constitutional hurdles that led to the formation of current government under Regmi’s leadership.