With less than a fortnight to go for Nepal's Constituent Assembly polls, campaigning has peaked in the capital and other cities as candidates focus on door-to-door canvassing.
In Kathmandu and other cities, candidates are meeting individual voters instead of organising public meetings and rallies to woo the electorate ahead of the November 19 election.
"The Nepali Congress will emerge as the largest party in the Constituent Assembly elections being held for 601 seats," claimed Nepali Congress candidate Narahari Acharya, who is contesting polls from a constituency in Kathmandu.
He claimed his party has also strengthened its position in the Terai, the southern plains, and far western Nepal.
During the previous Constituent Assembly polls, the Unified CPN-Maoist emerged the largest party with 238 seats.
"Both CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist consider our party as their main competitor," said Acharya.
The election will be held on the stipulated date and attempts by some "dissenting parties, including the CPN-Maoist led by Mohan Vaidya", will not be able to foil them, he said.
Kathmandu has become a prestigious region for political parties as top leaders are contesting polls from the city.
Nepali Congress general secretary Prakash Man Singh is contesting from Kathmandu 1 while former premier and senior CPN-UML leader is contesting from Kathmandu 2.
CPN-UML general secretary Ishwor Pokharel is contesting from Kathmandu 5, where Nepali Congress leader Narahari Acharya is challenging him.
UCPN-Maoist chairman and former premier Prachanda is contesting from Kathmandu 10 and Siraha in southern Nepal. In the previous Constituent Assembly polls, he won from two seats in Kathmandu and Rolpa.
Meanwhile, Prahanda yesterday launched his party's Mechi-Mahakali (East-West) national awareness campaign in Kakadvitta. He said the chances of drafting a new constitution will be high if his party wins a majority.
He also claimed the UCPN-Moist will bring about a drastic change in Nepal if it gets a majority.
During a week-long campaign, Prachanda, his deputy Baburam Bhattarai and other party leaders will address gatherings in some 50 places across Nepal.
