Robust Poll Security

The country is all set for the elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) on March 5. Unlike the previous polls, this one is taking place in special circumstances. It is being held to fill the political vacuum caused by the Gen Z movement in September last year. Every election entails security challenges but those conducted in the aftermath of political movements and regime changes carry additional security burdens. The country witnesses intense political polarisation, hostility, mistrust and the possibility of violent scuffles before, during and after such elections. The political parties that lost power due to the civilian unrest nurse vengeance and often lock horns with the emerging forces that challenge the status quo. 

We have also seen this development this time. However, the civilian government, formed under the able leadership of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, has successfully handled the situation. Just a few weeks ago, a sense of uncertainty loomed over the polls. The interim government took a series of steps to boost the morale of security forces and forge a broader consensus among the parties with divergent ideological orientations. In addition, it mobilised the necessary resources – both human and financial – for robust poll preparations. As the day of the nomination of candidates came, all confusion and doubt came to a rest. Now all political parties and candidates are on the stump, spreading the poll fervor among the voters. The government has taken no stone unturned to hold the elections in a free, fair and fearless atmosphere. 

According to a news report published in this daily the other day, the government completed almost all preparatory security measures for the upcoming elections. It has put in place a three-tier security framework that covers the pre-election period, polling day, and the post-election phase. This is in line with the Integrated Election Security Plan–2082, which was endorsed by the Ministry of Home Affairs in November last year. The first phase of security preparations has mostly been concluded. The government has to make a comprehensive security sensitivity assessment of polling centres, determine the personnel strength, selection and training of election police (temporary police), and conduct the joint exercises among all three security agencies. 

More than 338,000 security personnel from all security agencies, election police and National Investigation Department will be deployed in the polls. The Nepal Army has been assigned to provide security and transport the printed ballots. The Election Commission has begun printing the ballots from last week. The NA personnel will be deployed in the field from February 4, one-month ahead of the election date. The security bodies have identified many polling stations as security-sensitive compared to previous elections because of deepening animosity among the old and new parties. The Central Security Committee has classified polling stations into three categories: highly sensitive, sensitive and general, and has arranged security management accordingly. 

Of the 11,901 polling centres designated for the elections, about one-third have been placed on the highly sensitive list. Around 4,442 polling stations are sensitive, while 2,845 are considered peaceful. Similarly, geographical difficulty, misinformation campaign, financial constraint and climate-related threat in the high mountain and Himalayan regions might present additional challenges. Fake news, misinformation and rumours do the rounds quickly through digital and social media. Graffiti, posters and pamphlets are other means to spread negative messages against the rival candidates and parties. The EC has to strictly enforce the code of conduct to make the poll environment congenial and safe. The parties should equally adhere to the code so that the people exercise their democratic right without any hindrance.