Prime Minister G P Koirala, 84, of the Nepali Congress, hosted a reception for international observers who have descended down in the capital. In a brief chat with the media he cryptically said, “Everything is fair in love and war”. It was not clear whether he was saying that in response to Prachanda’s speech or in regard to the prevailing fear that the polls would be marred by violence and rigging.
In addition to the 1,000-odd international observers, with former US President Jimmy Carter in the lead, around 100,000 national observers will be joining them.