Normal life came to a standstill on Thursday in Nepal’s capital and eastern parts of the country due to a strike called by 33-party alliance led by CPN-Maoist, demanding to postpone the November 19 election.

Owing to the strike, transportation service has come to a grinding halt and academic institutions, major markets, and most of the factories have been shut down in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts of Kathmandu valley and about a dozen districts in eastern Nepal.

However, tourist buses, ambulances and vehicles belonging to the press were allowed to operate during the strike.

The cadres of the agitating groups have been demonstrating in different nooks and corners of the valley to enforce the shut down.

Besides Kathmandu valley the strike also affected Ilam, Paanchthar, Taplejung, Tehrathum, Dhankuta, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Khotang, Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Udayapur, Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts.

The CPN-Maoist and fringe parties are demanding an all party round table meeting to discuss contentious issues and differ election date.

Security has been stepped up in different places in the capital to avert possible untoward incidents