India, Nov. 23 -- CPN-UML, in what many observers view as a desperate show of strength, staged a protest rally in Kathmandu on Saturday against the September 12 dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR).

Addressing supporters, party chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli repeated his demand that the dissolved HoR be reinstated-an insistence analysts warn could jeopardise the smooth conduct of the March 5 election.

The rally came just a day after the party announced the formation of a defensive unit named the National Volunteer Force, to be led by Pushparaj Shrestha, who has been convicted of multiple crimes including kidnapping and unlawful detention. Oli defended the new outfit, saying there was "no need to fear insec...