<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">Nepali Hindus are observing the Kojagrat Poornima (full moon day) today as part of the final day of the 15-day Bada Dashain festival by worshipping and paying homage to Mahalaxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.&nbsp;</span><br></p><p>The Bada Dashain festival formally ends today with the marking of the Kojagrat Poornima–devotees offering worships to Mahalaxmi at their homes in the evening, and keeping vigil the whole night.&nbsp;</p><p>There is a belief that the goddess Mahalaxmi takes a trip around the world on the night of Kojagrat Poornima 'to check as to who is observing the vigil on this particular night'.</p><p>As per this belief, the goddess of wealth blesses the people who are found observing the overnight vigil, says Nepal Calendar Determination.</p>

<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">The Nepali Congress (NC) has called on all political parties subscribing to democratic thoughts to participate in the broader democratic alliance.&nbsp;</span><br></p><p><br></p><p>A meeting of the NC central work execution committee took place in Baluwatar concluded that though polarisation between the democratic and leftist political forces was not appropriate at time of implementing the constitution by formally taking the peace process to the end, the party realised the need of an unity among democratic forces with no any option left as the Communist parties have already headed towards that path. &nbsp;</p><p>The meeting chaired by Prime Minister and Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba was attended by senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel, General Secretary Dr Shashank Koirala and treasurer Sita Devi Yadav, among others.</p><p><br></p><p>Discussions have started in the meeting to incorporate in the broader democratic alliance all the parties that hold the view that one-party system is not right.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>The Nepali Congress, the Rastriya Janashakti Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Democratic), the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal and the Nepal Democratic Forum had through a joint meeting decided to participate in the democratic alliance.&nbsp;</p><p>Likewise, a meeting of the NC central work execution committee has been called for Friday morning (8 am) to hold discussion on the subjects in relation to the arrangement for picking candidates for the upcoming House of Representatives and State Assemblies elections, and forging a broader democratic alliance, said Chief Secretary of the NC central office, Krishna Prasad Poudel.&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">Leading political figures from the Farwest Region who are active in national politics have been recommended by their respective parties to contest in the House of Representatives and State Assemblies elections from Province 7.</span><br></p><p><br></p><p>Prime Minister and Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba has been unanimously picked as the party's candidate to contest the House of Representatives election from Dadeldhura, his home district.</p><p><br></p><p>Similarly, CPN (UML) vice-chairman Bhim Rawal has been unanimously selected as the party's candidate to contest in the House of Representatives election from Achham district.</p><p><br></p><p>Prime Minister Deuba's spouse, Dr Arzu Deuba Rana is likely to contest the House of Representatives (federal parliament) election from Kailali district constituency-5.</p>

<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">An alliance of 33 fringe political parties is to take part in the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies with the election symbol of 'sickle and hammer', the symbol of CPN (Maoist Centre). &nbsp; &nbsp;</span><br></p><p>The alliance unveiled its decision today, following the announcement of an electoral alliance of the CPN (UML), CPN (Maoist Centre) and Naya Shakti for the forthcoming November 26 and December 7 elections and eventually taking the parties towards merger.&nbsp;</p><p>The 33-party &nbsp;alliance coordinator Yubraj Safal said they had decided to take part in the elections with the election symbol of the CPN (MC), welcoming the decision to form the leftist alliance &nbsp;terming it as the 'progressive force'.</p>

<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">The CPN (UML) has unanimously recommended party chairman KP Sharma Oli to contest the House of Representatives elections from Jhapa constituency-5.&nbsp;</span><br></p><p><br></p><p>Similarly,</p><p><br></p><p>CPN (UML) senior leader and former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal has announced that he would contest the House of Representatives elections from Ilam constituency-1 from the UML's quota.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Likewise, the UML leader and former Speaker Subash Chandra Nembang has also announced to contest the polls from Ilam constituency-2 from the UML quota.&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">The Nepali Congress central member Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has termed the recent alliance among main leftist parties– CPN (UML), CPN (Maoist Centre) and Naya Shakti Nepal — a way to only reach to power.&nbsp;</span><br></p><p><br></p><p>While speaking at a tea reception in Bhaktapur, he however said the NC would not be swayed from this alliance, adding that the incumbent government would hold the House of Representatives and State Assemblies elections slated for November 26 and December 7 successfully and enforce the new constitution full-fledged.&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">Two separate taskforces constituted following the agreement among the CPN (UML), CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Nayashakti Nepal to forge an electoral alliance for the upcoming House of Representatives and State Assemblies elections have been given the deadline to complete the assigned task.&nbsp;</span><br></p><p><br></p><p>As per the agreement, the UML and Maoist Centre are to share seats in the 60-40 ratio in the upcoming elections towards the direct system. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>The taskforce meant for determining the electoral constituency has been directed to prepare a report within the next three days.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>In the very &nbsp;first joint meeting of both taskforces took place at the Singha Durbar-based CPN (UML) Parliamentary party office today, UML &nbsp;chair KP Sharma Oli and CPN (MC) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and other top leaders of both political parties gave deadline to both bodies to complete the task.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>The second taskforce has been instructed to prepare draft of the election manifesto within the next seven days.</p><p><br></p><p>Talking to media following the meeting, member in the second taskforce Nayashakti Nepal's leader Ganga Shrestha said they were directed to incorporate the issues of constitution, democracy and social justice in the election manifesto.</p>