KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 13

The faction of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is holding another mass gathering this afternoon in Butwal of Rupandehi district.

The faction has claimed that approximately 200,000 people are expected to join the assembly that is scheduled to be addressed by Prime Minister Oli. It has been learnt that the gathering will be held at the premises of a local school to inform people about the dissolution of the House of Representatives and calling of the mid-term polls.

Earlier on February 5, supporters of PM Oli had organised a show-of-strength, wherein thousands of people had gathered in Kathmandu. Oli and other senior figures of the NCP group had addressed the gathering.

Similarly, in a bid to counter PM Oli's aforementioned show-of-strength, rival Dahal-Nepal faction organised a mass-gathering at Bhrikutimandap in the capital on February 10.

On December 20, PM Oli recommended the House dissolution which was approved by President Bidya Devi Bhandari along with announcement of mid-term elections on April 30 and May 10. The Dahal-Nepal faction, along with other political parties, civic society, and the general public have been protesting the PM's move calling it 'unconstitutional' and 'authoritative' ever since.

Meanwhile, a hearing on the HoR dissolution case -- against which multiple writ petitions have been filed -- is ongoing at the Constitutional bench of Nepal's Supreme Court.