Nepali leaders have called on people to ensure a successful voting day on 5 March, the nation's first general election since deadly youth-led protests toppled the government last September.
In an address to the nation on Monday, Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki urged people to go to polling stations, acknowledging the election is being held after a "complex, sensitive and challenging" time.
Nearly 19 million people, including 800,000 first-time voters, will take part in the vote for the House of Representatives, the lower of the two houses of parliament.
Police said they arrested 133 people on charges of "anti-election activities", 70 of whom were still in custody as of Sunday evening.
Describing the election as a chance to decide the country's future, Karki, a former chief justice, asked Nepali people to maintain peace and harmony throughout the election season in her televised broadcast to the nation, "It is only with your active participation that our democracy will survive," she said.
