Kathmandu, May 1 -- In Gairigaon's displaced settlement on Wednesday afternoon, the sound of children's singing cut through the light rain.

"Jhyappai aye Balen Dai dozer liyera." (Balen Dai stormed in with his bulldozer. )

This folk-parody depicting then Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah's determination to free the riverbanks of squatter settlements by hook or by crook was sung to portray the prime ministerial candidate Balendra Shah as being against the squatters.

A small group of boys stood near the debris of their homes, rendering the song that quickly spread among children in the area after the demolitions.

They stopped when they noticed reporters standing nearby. The sudden silence seemed to quiet the rain itself.

When asked to cont...