And in the afternoon, the Maoists' United National People's Movement chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai issued a press statement suggesting the organiser of the strike -- All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF) -- to call off transportation strike citing the pressure from the public as the day was auspicious for marriage and a large number of people were tying their knots.

Even the standing committee meeting of the party also decided to call off the transportation strike only. Party spokesperson Dinanath Sharma repeatedly told the reporters that only the transportation strike was called off stressing that strike in other sector would continue.

However, president of ANTUF Shalikram Jammarkattel, who is also a Maoist lawmaker, later issued another statement claiming that all the strikes scheduled for Wednesday were called off citing the same reason as told by Dr Bhattarai.

The confusion created by the different statements further deepened as ANTUF vice-president Badri Bajgain, issued another statement, saying that all other strikes except the transportation one would continue citing Dr Bhattarai and the decision of the standing committee. "As directed by the party and the UNPM, ANTUF will go ahead with the strike in the industries and factories," Bajgain had told THT yesterday evening.

In the late evening, one of Dr Bhattarai's aide Phanindra Devkota told the media that strikes were called off.

"This clearly shows that ANTUF has defied the party's direction," said a Maoist leader, preferring not to be named.Sources claimed that ANTUF chief Jammarkattel, was furious with Dr Bhattarai's decision. ANTUF general secretary Ganesh Regmi maintained that all strikes were called off as it would have no impact after withdrawing the transport strike.