The Baburam Bhattarai-led Naya Shakti Nepal and 63 other political parties have organised demonstrations around the country demanding that the EC allow them to contest the local elections using the same symbol throughout the country. The Election Commission recently decided that only political parties with at least one seat in Parliament will be allowed to contest the election as a ‘political party’ and others will have to run as independent candidates. Protesters also picketed Kathmandu District Election office and Naya Shakti leader Hishila Yami burnt a copy of the election law which says parties such as the Naya Shakti cannot take part in the elections as a political unit. Similar protests were organised in other cities around the country. नयाँ शक्ति लगायतका संसद बाहिरका दलले आज देशैभरका निर्वाचन कार्यालय अगाडि धर्ना दिएको छ । स्थानीय तह निर्वाचनमा चुनाव चिन्ह पाउनु पर्ने माग गर्दै नयाँ शक्ति लगायतका ६४ दलले धर्ना दिएका हुन् । राजधानीको बबरमहलस्थित जिल्ला निर्वाचन कार्यालय सहित ७५ वटै जिल्लामा धर्ना दिइएको नयाँ शक्तिले जनाएको छ । बिभिन्न जिल्लामा निर्वाचन कार्यालय घेराउका क्रममा प्रहरीले दर्जनौंलाई नियन्त्रणमा लिएको छ । रुपन्देहीमा ३७ जना, धनुषामा १५, तथा अर्घाखाँचीमा १४ जना धर्नाकारीलाई प्रहरीले नियन्त्रणमा लिएको हो । संसदमा रहेका दललाई मात्र निर्वाचन चिन्ह दिने गरी ऐन बनाइएपछि वाहिर रहेका दलले आन्दोलन शुरु गरेका छन् । यसैक्रममा हिजो नयाँ शक्तिका संयोजक बाबुराम भट्टराई सहितलाई प्रहरीले नियन्त्रणमा लिएर राती छाडेको थियो ।