Kathmandu, March 27: The election atmosphere in Nepal is getting hazier with clashes among the political rivals in several parts of the country.

The situation was worsened with a statement by Maoist chief Prachanda on Thursday that heaped praises on Young Communist League cadres for their attack on Bal Bahadur KC, a Congress party candidate, from Solukhumbu district in Northern Nepal on Wednesday. In the clash between the Congress supporters and YCL cadres, at least one local Maoist leader died and K C sustained injuries.

“The attack on the goons led by KC was justified and YCL deserves all praise”, Prachanda said while addressing series of election meetings in Nepal’s Terai area today, injecting fear, that it amount to instigating the cadres, already singled out for their violent activities by many domestic human right groups and international observers.

There have been more than four dozen cases of attacks, mostly initiated by the Maoists resulting in more than 15 deaths, from different political groups during the election campaign.

The National Human Rights Commission expressed serious concern about the Solu incident. But the election commission as well as the Home Ministry so far have not been able to take effective measures to create an atmosphere conducive for polls.

In fact, some of the candidates have even begun asking if any meaningful purpose will be served by holding elections in the prevailing situation. Maoist cadres attacked Rajendra Pandey, a former Minister, and Communist Party of nepal—United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) candidate from Dhading district adjoining candidate twice during the past four days. “What is the point in having election in such situation”, Pandey said, asking his party leaders to take up the matter withthe government and the election commission.