Kathmandu: The top leaders of the seven major political parties today vowed to abolish the 239-year- old monarchy and build a "new Nepal" as they launched a joint campaign for the crucial April 10 Constituent Assembly polls.

"No power can stop" them from holding the twice-differed election to the Constituent Assembly that will decide the future political system, the Seven Party Alliance leaders said addressing a rally attended by over 50,000 people at an open ground just half a kms south of the Royal Palace.

Supporters of the seven parties, including the former rebel Maoists, marched through the main streets of the Nepal capital before converging into the venue.

"Now, Nepalese people have become really sovereign as they have got the power to make their own constitution," said Nepali Congress leader and former premier Sher Bahadur Deuba, speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who did not take part in the meeting due to his illness.

As Nepali Congress has already committed itself towards establishing a republican system, "no one can stop" Nepal from converting into a federal republic, Deuba said.

He also urged the armed ethnic groups of southern Terai to abandon violence and participate in the April election. Maoist chairman Prachanda said his party is committed to holding the polls at any cost and cautioned people against the "royalists and foreign interventionists who do not want to elections to take place".

"The rally is a commitment and a declaration for a new Nepal and for a federal republican Nepal after the polls." He claimed majority of the Madhesi people are in favour of the polls but "some puppets of foreign elements may be involved in hatching conspiracy against it and we will fight against them".

Source : PTI