Kathmandu: The chief of Nepal's former Maoist rebels said on Friday he will stand in this year's elections for a constituent assembly.
To boost his chances of winning, Prachanda will run in two different places -- one in the Kathmandu valley, the other in the Maoist heartland of Rolpa from where a decade-long rebellion against the monarchy began.
The polls are due to be held on April 10. They are the centrepiece of a peace process with the Maoists, who ended their struggle and joined the political mainstream in 2006.
"There is no reason why we should not win," 53-year-old Prachanda, whose nom de guerre means "terrible" or "awesome", told reporters.
The assembly is expected to formally turn Nepal into a republic after nearly 240 years of monarchy, a goal the Maoists began fighting for in 1996.
The 601-member body is also expected to make the country's laws, taking over from the current interim parliament.
Prachanda dismissed charges by rival politicians that Maoists were afraid of facing Nepal's voters.
He said the Maoists had already "plunged into the election" process and did not want another postponement of the vote, which was earlier set for last November.
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