Kathmandu, Sept 29 : Nepal police today arrested Minister for Industries, Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato, who was leading a protest demonstration by his party here today.

Around 40 of the Mahato’s supporters were also arrested. They were protesting outside the Election Commission office against the EC decision not to recognise the dissident faction of Nepal Sadbhavana Party-Anandi Devi (NSP-A) led by him.

On Friday, the EC refused to recognise the Mahato-led NSP-A faction as the official NSP. Mahato-led faction split recently from the NSP-A.

The arrests were made when the protestors tried to burn the effigies of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the copy of the EC decision.

The EC had asked the Mahato-led faction to register a new party by Saturday afternoon. However, the faction rejected the decision and threatened to begin agitations to disrupt the Constituent Assembly polls scheduled for November 22.

Mahato has said that he would submit his resignation to Koirala on Sunday.

Mahato was lodged at Maharajgunj police station. All those arrested were later released. (With inputs from ANI)