NC TO WORK WITH LIKE-MINDED PARTIES IN ASSEMBLY VOTE Kathmandu, 26 March: Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala has said that his party would forge ahead in the forthcoming Constituent Assembly election taking on board all the parties and forces that believe in democracy for protecting the country and democracy, RSS reports from Kaski. Addressing a news conference organised by Nepal Press Union, Kaski in Pokhara today, Koirala said he was ready to talk to the CPN-Maoist and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal and other parties opposed to the election in that connection. The NC president also indicated to the possibility of forming an alliance with the democratic parties and forces looking at the election scenario. Stating that since election is the heart of democracy, the Nepali Congress has accorded priority to election, he reiterated that the party would always work for upholding the civic rights, the rule of law and press freedom. "The Nepali Congress has geared up for the polls whether that happens in June or November," he said, adding that they were visiting different districts to spread the message that the party was united and intact. Accompanying Koirala are senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel and other leaders of the party. nnnn