Breakaway Maoist group to boycott Nepal elections

A breakaway faction of Nepal's Maoists, led by Mohan Baidhya, Thursday formally announced their boycott of the second constituent assembly elections to be held Nov 19, terming it a political drama where Nepalis were forced to take part due to foreign pressure.

Announcing the decision, party secretary general Ram Bahadur Thapa and other senior party leaders symbolically smashed the ballot box at a public function organised here and simultaneously across Nepal.

The party also decided to launch an anti-election campaign across the country's all 75 districts.

Attacking India, Thapa termed the elections a part of the neighbouring country's designs to impose hegemony.

"It is ploy to Sikkiminization of Nepal," he said, referring to the northeastern Indian state that was independent protectorate before it became part of India.

The Baidhya faction has a different view on nationalism and Nepal's relations with India, and this was the main reason why they split from the main party last year. They also consider deposed king Gynendra Shah more nationalist than other major political parties.

Participating in another function, Baidhya announced that they will come up with new constitution through the street.

Nepal's election panel and political parties have written thrice to Baidhya inviting him for a dialogue but his party has been refusing to join in, citing several political conditions.

Some other fringe parties have also decided to boycott the November elections, expressing their reservations over several conditions and the appointment of Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi as chairman of the Interim Election Council.

Observers say that if other disgruntled factions also join the Baidhya faction, they will have enough strength to disturb the polls and creditability of the results will be questioned.

Meanwhile, the election commission has started allotting the election symbols and as of now, 59 parties have received the elections insignia.

The first assembly, elected in 2008, dissolved last year without carving out a constitution.