CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli launched the Mechi-Mahakali Campaign, an election drive of the main opposition party, at a function in Kakadvitta, Jhapa, on Saturday.

The opening of the two-week long campaign coincides with the Sukhani Martyrs Memorial Day that remembers five persons killed in 1973 for their involvement in the Jhapa Rebellion against landlords.

Referring to the political polarisation over the new constitution, Oli said attempts were being made to create illusions about geography, ethnicity and Hills-Madhes divide with regard to the federal delineation. The campaign would aim to dispel such misconceptions, Oli said at the rally.

The UML chief reiterated that the constitution amendment bill registered in Parliament would not be endorsed at any cost since it was against “national interests”. He claimed that the constitution was promulgated in 2015 due to a clear stance of the UML. The constitution should be implemented to institutionalise the political gains made in the past decade, he added.

“The charter was issued defeating the forces that stood against the writing and promulgating of the new constitution. All the people should unite for its implementation,” the former prime minister said.

The UML chief claimed that conspiracies were being hatched against implementation of the constitution. “But our party will foil such attempts,” said Oli, claiming that the government had announced the local level elections under pressure from the UML.

Some political forces and leaders were hell bent on foiling the polls, he charged. UML senior leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal, General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel and former speaker Subas Nembang, among other central leaders, attended the event.

They warned of retaliation if some parties and groups attempted to disrupt their campaign.