The Maoists have held village people's committee (VPC) conventions in areas under their control. They conducted elections to the VPCs in Purtikada, Garaila and Chiwang villages in Rukum district recently. During these conventions, discussions were held and plans formulated concerning village development programmes, road construction, drinking water, protection of forests, price of commodities, etc. People from all parties freely and actively participated in these elections and they did so without changing their political beliefs. People against the PM's coterie and UML policies participated in these elections even though they continued to remain within the Nepali Congress and the UML. Elections to these committees were more actively participated in than the national elections. Elections were earlier held in Rolpa, Rukum, Salyan and Jajarkot districts