HoR election: High security alert in key constituencies
The Nepal Police has formed a Central Election Operation Cell under the leadership of Additional Inspector General (AIG) Umaprasad Chaturvedi to oversee internal security and monitoring.
KATHMANDU: As the election for the House of Representatives scheduled for Falgun 21 (March 5) approaches, Nepal’s key state institutions have intensified preparations to ensure a peaceful, free and fair electoral process.
Security agencies, the Election Commission, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the judiciary have all stepped up coordination, particularly focusing on high-profile constituencies and sensitive areas where prominent candidates are contesting.
The Nepal Police has formed a Central Election Operation Cell under the leadership of Additional Inspector General (AIG) Umaprasad Chaturvedi to oversee internal security and monitoring.
The cell includes 31 senior officers, including Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), while separate coordination units have been established at the provincial level.
Inspector General of Police Dan Bahadur Karki has instructed all subordinate units to maintain strict vigilance to prevent clashes and ensure law and order throughout the election period.
According to the police’s security assessment, all districts of Madhesh Province have been classified as challenging.
Special attention is being given to Sarlahi Constituency-4, where Congress leader Gagan Thapa is contesting against Amresh Kumar Singh, and Jhapa Constituency-5, featuring heavyweight candidates including CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli and Balen Shah.
In Jhapa, 95 polling centres have been marked as highly sensitive, while 158 polling centres in Sarlahi fall under the same category.
Police spokesperson and DIG Abinarayan Kafle said security teams in sensitive areas would operate under SSP-level command, with senior officers directly monitoring operations to prevent any lapses.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has increased surveillance to enforce the election code of conduct and curb misinformation.
Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said social media platforms are under close watch, adding that 21 candidates and organisations have already been asked to clarify alleged code violations.
The National Human Rights Commission is also preparing to deploy monitoring teams across all seven provinces.
NHRC Assistant Spokesperson Shyam Babu Kafle said special attention would be paid to ensuring easy access for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and women during voting.
The commission will also closely observe the use of children and the conduct of election observers.
In a related development, the Supreme Court has halted political appointments during the enforcement of the election code of conduct.
A single-bench of Justice Binod Sharma issued an interim order stopping the appointment process of the Nepal Airlines Corporation’s Managing Director, citing code-of-conduct restrictions. The process had reached the interview stage with 10 shortlisted candidates.
To strengthen public trust at the grassroots level, the Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced the “Ward-Level Coordination Concept 2082.” The initiative aims to involve political parties and civil society actors at the ward level to foster local ownership of the electoral process.
Ministry spokesperson Anand Kafle said coordination has been enhanced through District Administration Offices, stressing that local intellectuals and community leaders play a crucial role in ensuring clean and credible elections.
