Two days before elections, Chief Election Commissioner Bhojraj Pokhrel has tried to allay fears among people that others can find out how they vote.

"No one, only the voter, will know who he or she voted for, no one else will know which party and candidate got the vote," Pokhrel said in an address to citizens on Tuesday. The Maoists have been telling voters throughout the country that they have special telescope which can tell them who has voted for whom. They have also warned voters that they will be punished if they vote for other parties. Earlier, Pokhrel also met Jimmy Carter who is here to observe elections. The US ex-president was concerned about whether or not the political parties would accept election results if it didn\'t go in their favour. After the meeting, he told reporters the parties must accept the results.

Carter also met Prime Minister Koirala, the UML\'s Madhab Nepal and Pushpa Kamal Dahal of the Maoists. Dahal reportedly assured Carter that his party would abide by election rules and accept results, whatever the outcome.

Dahal also told UNMIN chief Ian Martin at a separate meeting Tuesday that his party would not create any more obstacles to the elections. Martin reportedly raised the issue of PLA units staying out of cantonments and asked them to abide by the provisions of the peace accord.

In an address to the nation on the occasion of Jana Andolan Day Tuesday, Koirala said the nation was "poised at the gate of a new age" and asked Nepalis "to vote without fear for the future".