Itahari, September 30:

Maoist cadres today obstructed poll awareness programmes being run in six VDCs of Sunsari. District election office chief Prem Luintel told this daily that the Maoists put a stop to the ongoing constituent

assembly election awareness programmes in Mahendranagar, Prakashpur, Bhadgaun Sinuwari, Gautampur, Khanar and Dharan-15.

They have also forbidden poll campaigns and putting up of poll-related posters. Luintel

said that though the Maoists are putting up obstructions, the election office would continue its work at an even more rapid pace.

The district election office has set up regional offices in all six constituencies in the district, said Luintel, adding that 518 polling booths have been earmarked for the six constituencies.

Call for republic:

KATHMANDU: Krishna Bahadur Mahara of CPN (Maoist), Pari Thapa of CPN (United) and Ganesh Shah of United Left Front Nepal, issuing a press release on Sunday, demanded the declaration of a republic and called for a complete proportional election system. — RSS