Nepal will hold a general election on November 26, the government said on Monday, hoping to conclude a turbulent journey to democracy a decade after a civil war and the abolition of its 239-year-old monarchy.

The election timing is in line with the Himalayan nation&#39;s first republican constitution, drawn up in 2015, that requires a new parliament to be in place before January 21 next year.

Law Minister Yagya Bahadur Thapa, confirming the cabinet&#39;s decision on the election date, said Nepalis would celebrate their democratic rights.

&quot;This is going to be a big festival. There is no doubt about that,&quot; he told Reuters.

Elections to seven state assemblies, set up under the new constitution to establish more of a federal system, would be held at the same time, he said.

The parliamentary election will mark a personal triumph for Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was fired by Nepal&#39;s last monarch, King Gyanendra, in 2002.

The king had called Deuba &quot;incompetent&quot; for failing to contain a Maoist insurgency and hold elections.

Nepal has been in turmoil since a decade-long Maoist conflict ended in 2006 and the monarchy was abolished two years later.

One of Asia&#39;s poorest countries, with nearly a quarter of its 28 million people living on less than $2 a day, Nepal has seen nine different governments since then.

The instability has stifled growth and unnerved investors while two devastating earthquakes in 2015 were a further blow to efforts to stabilise the economy in a landlocked country with the potential to generate significant hydroelectric power.

Heavy monsoon rain in recent days has brought floods to Nepal&#39;s low lands and killed more than 130 people.

Political developments are closely watched by neighbouring giants China and India, which jostle for influence.

Nepal is also in the middle of phased local elections - the first in two decades - with a final round set for September 18.

The election timing is in line with Nepal's first republican constitution that requires a new parliament to be in place before January 21 next year

Nepal will hold a general election on November 26, the government said on Monday, hoping to conclude a turbulent journey to democracy a decade after a civil war and the abolition of its 239-year-old monarchy. The election timing is in line with the Himalayan nation's first republican constitution, drawn up in 2015, that requires a new parliament to be in place before January 21 next year. Law Minister Yagya Bahadur Thapa, confirming the cabinet's decision on the election date, said Nepalis would celebrate their democratic rights. "This is going to be a big festival. There is no doubt about that," he told Reuters. Elections to seven state assemblies, set up under the new constitution to establish more of a federal system, would be held at the same time, he said. The parliamentary election will mark a personal triumph for Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was fired by Nepal's last monarch, King Gyanendra, in 2002. The king had called Deuba "incompetent" for failing to contain a Maoist insurgency and hold elections. Nepal has been in turmoil since a decade-long Maoist conflict ended in 2006 and the monarchy was abolished two years later. One of Asia's poorest countries, with nearly a quarter of its 28 million people living on less than $2 a day, Nepal has seen nine different governments since then. The instability has stifled growth and unnerved investors while two devastating earthquakes in 2015 were a further blow to efforts to stabilise the economy in a landlocked country with the potential to generate significant hydroelectric power. Heavy monsoon rain in recent days has brought floods to Nepal's low lands and killed more than 130 people. Political developments are closely watched by neighbouring giants China and India, which jostle for influence. Nepal is also in the middle of phased local elections - the first in two decades - with a final round set for September 18.

Nepal to hold general elections on November 26

Ganesh Yadav was shot by police during deadly protests that roiled southern Nepal in 2015, but he is ready to return to the streets -- a mark of the intense anger still felt as the area prepares to go to the polls.

Nepal last month began holding its first local elections in 20 years, a key stage in the country&#39;s post-war transformation from feudal monarchy to federal democracy.

On Wednesday, voting is due to take place in the southern plains, home to the country&#39;s Madhesi ethnic minority, who demonstrated in huge numbers two years ago to protest new federal borders they say will leave them politically marginalised.

The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RPJ-N), the main party representing the Madhesi community, has already said it will boycott Wednesday&#39;s polls, raising doubts about their legitimacy and fears of a resurgence in the violence.

&quot;This is a fight for equality and dignity,&quot; 31-year-old Yadav, a farmer, told AFP as he cradled his one-year-old son at his home on the outskirts of Janakpur in southern Nepal.

&quot;I was shot, but I am still joining protests.&quot;

More than 50 people died in the months-long protests, most of them shot when police fired into crowds of demonstrators -- a response condemned by rights campaigners.&nbsp;

Analysts say the government&#39;s failure to address the grievances of the community, which makes up around 20 per cent of Nepal&#39;s population, could be holding back the country&#39;s progress.

Parties representing the Madhesi have already forced several postponements of the local elections, which are supposed to pave the way for provincial polls and then national elections by January, when the mandate of the current parliament expires.

The government recently postponed the polls in the voting area that includes Janakpur --&nbsp;seen as a potential flashpoint -- until September following local protests.

&quot;The unaddressed agendas of the Madhes are in a way holding the country hostage, keeping it from smoothly completing its democratic processes,&quot; said lawyer and Madhesi activist Dipendra Jha.

The Madhesis, who live in Nepal&#39;s populous southern lowlands known as the Terai and share close linguistic and cultural ties with India, have long complained that the existing federal borders deprive them of fair political representation.

Many were denied citizenship, rendering them stateless, until a 2006 law that allowed non-Nepali speakers born and raised in the country to become naturalised citizens.&nbsp;

&#39;Sidelined again&#39;&nbsp;

Yadav said he grew up watching his neighbours mistreated by powerful landowners from the hills of central Nepal and faced racism when he went to study in the capital.

&quot;There has always been an attitude of discrimination towards people from the plains,&quot; he said.

The row that blew up in 2015, shortly after a deadly earthquake in the country, stemmed from a new national constitution that set federal boundaries.

The Madhesi say these will leave them underrepresented in parliament and have demanded an amendment that would allow the boundaries to be redrawn.

The government has drawn up an amendment, but it is unclear whether it has the numbers it needs to pass the bill in the face of opposition from rival parties.

Senior RJP-N leader Rajendra Mahato said his party would hold out even after rival parties said they would take part in the elections.

&quot;The government and major political parties have an opportunity to amend the constitution before the September polls, which could make a conducive environment for the election,&quot; he said.

Mass protests in the Tarai first broke out in 2007, forcing leaders to promise greater regional autonomy and representation in state bodies.

That was supposed to be included in the constitution, but Madhesis say its provisions fall short of the promises they were made.

In the dusty streets of Janakpur, many hope the government responds before more radical secessionist voices gain support.

&quot;If the main parties become sincere, then the constitution amendment would not take so long,&quot; said Saroj Mishra, a shopkeeper and community leader.

&quot;But our demands have been sidelined again and again.&quot;

Voting will take place in southern Nepal on Wednesday

Ganesh Yadav was shot by police during deadly protests that roiled southern Nepal in 2015, but he is ready to return to the streets -- a mark of the intense anger still felt as the area prepares to go to the polls. Nepal last month began holding its first local elections in 20 years, a key stage in the country's post-war transformation from feudal monarchy to federal democracy. On Wednesday, voting is due to take place in the southern plains, home to the country's Madhesi ethnic minority, who demonstrated in huge numbers two years ago to protest new federal borders they say will leave them politically marginalised. The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RPJ-N), the main party representing the Madhesi community, has already said it will boycott Wednesday's polls, raising doubts about their legitimacy and fears of a resurgence in the violence. "This is a fight for equality and dignity," 31-year-old Yadav, a farmer, told AFP as he cradled his one-year-old son at his home on the outskirts of Janakpur in southern Nepal. "I was shot, but I am still joining protests." More than 50 people died in the months-long protests, most of them shot when police fired into crowds of demonstrators -- a response condemned by rights campaigners. Analysts say the government's failure to address the grievances of the community, which makes up around 20 per cent of Nepal's population, could be holding back the country's progress. Parties representing the Madhesi have already forced several postponements of the local elections, which are supposed to pave the way for provincial polls and then national elections by January, when the mandate of the current parliament expires. The government recently postponed the polls in the voting area that includes Janakpur -- seen as a potential flashpoint -- until September following local protests. "The unaddressed agendas of the Madhes are in a way holding the country hostage, keeping it from smoothly completing its democratic processes," said lawyer and Madhesi activist Dipendra Jha. The Madhesis, who live in Nepal's populous southern lowlands known as the Terai and share close linguistic and cultural ties with India, have long complained that the existing federal borders deprive them of fair political representation. Many were denied citizenship, rendering them stateless, until a 2006 law that allowed non-Nepali speakers born and raised in the country to become naturalised citizens. 'Sidelined again' Yadav said he grew up watching his neighbours mistreated by powerful landowners from the hills of central Nepal and faced racism when he went to study in the capital. "There has always been an attitude of discrimination towards people from the plains," he said. The row that blew up in 2015, shortly after a deadly earthquake in the country, stemmed from a new national constitution that set federal boundaries. The Madhesi say these will leave them underrepresented in parliament and have demanded an amendment that would allow the boundaries to be redrawn. The government has drawn up an amendment, but it is unclear whether it has the numbers it needs to pass the bill in the face of opposition from rival parties. Senior RJP-N leader Rajendra Mahato said his party would hold out even after rival parties said they would take part in the elections. "The government and major political parties have an opportunity to amend the constitution before the September polls, which could make a conducive environment for the election," he said. Mass protests in the Tarai first broke out in 2007, forcing leaders to promise greater regional autonomy and representation in state bodies. That was supposed to be included in the constitution, but Madhesis say its provisions fall short of the promises they were made. In the dusty streets of Janakpur, many hope the government responds before more radical secessionist voices gain support. "If the main parties become sincere, then the constitution amendment would not take so long," said Saroj Mishra, a shopkeeper and community leader. "But our demands have been sidelined again and again."

Anger in southern Nepal threatens crucial elections

Police arrested 223 members of a Maoist splinter group across Nepal on Sunday for vandalising vehicles and forcing shops to close while trying to enforce a nationwide strike.&nbsp;

The protesters from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) had called on factories, schools and public transport to shut down across the Himalayan nation as they pressured the government to provide food subsidies.

&quot;We have arrested 223 people for trying to block roads and vandalise vehicles,&quot; police spokesman Hemant Malla told AFP.

Malla said that three vehicles had been vandalised but no casualties have been reported.&nbsp;

Kathmandu&#39;s usually gridlocked streets were largely empty and many shops remained shut.

&quot;The main aim of our protest is to pressure the government to lower the prices of food grains, fuel and cooking gas.... The government should provide 50 per cent subsidy on these items to make them affordable for the public,&quot; said party spokesman Khadga Bahadur Biswokarma.

Nepal&#39;s inflation rate soared to 12 per cent last year following a massive earthquake and months-long border blockade by demonstrators unhappy with the terms of a new constitution but has since eased to 7.9 per cent, according to the country&#39;s central bank.&nbsp;

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

A Maoist splinter group called for a shut down across the nation to pressure the government into providing food subsidies

Police arrested 223 members of a Maoist splinter group across Nepal on Sunday for vandalising vehicles and forcing shops to close while trying to enforce a nationwide strike. The protesters from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) had called on factories, schools and public transport to shut down across the Himalayan nation as they pressured the government to provide food subsidies. "We have arrested 223 people for trying to block roads and vandalise vehicles," police spokesman Hemant Malla told AFP. Malla said that three vehicles had been vandalised but no casualties have been reported. Kathmandu's usually gridlocked streets were largely empty and many shops remained shut. "The main aim of our protest is to pressure the government to lower the prices of food grains, fuel and cooking gas.... The government should provide 50 per cent subsidy on these items to make them affordable for the public," said party spokesman Khadga Bahadur Biswokarma. Nepal's inflation rate soared to 12 per cent last year following a massive earthquake and months-long border blockade by demonstrators unhappy with the terms of a new constitution but has since eased to 7.9 per cent, according to the country's central bank. (AFP)

Nepal police arrest 223 protesters for vandalisation during nationwide strike