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A high-level delegation, including Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) Prabhu Ram Sharma, held a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya today in connection with security management for the November 20 elections to the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly. During the meeting held at the Election Commission Secretariat at Kantipath, CoAS Sharma briefed about the works and activities carried out by the Nepali Army in connection to the election security. On the occasion, he said that the election security is effective and efficient based on the on-site observation and the intelligence gathered so far, and the Army was ready to take up any role that it has to shoulder regarding holding the elections in a secure environment. CEC Thapaliya said important support has been received from the Nepal Army in printing the ballot papers, transporting them, verifying the election materials and packaging them and transporting the ballot papers, election materials and even the employees deputed for conducting the election to the remote mountainous region, in the context of election security management. Election Commissioners Ishwori Prasad Poudyal, Ram Prasad Bhandari and Sagun Shumsher JBR were present in the meeting. They said notable cooperation was received from the Nepal Army in the context of preparations for the elections, compliance to the election code of conduct and managing election security.

The CPN-UML will garner more seats under the proportional representation (PR) category while the Nepali Congress will secure more seats under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) category, the poll survey conducted by the Annapurna Media Network said. When asked, who do you want as the future prime minister of Nepal? Most of the people want UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli as the prime minister of the country. When asked the second question, who was the best prime minister so far? Most of the people said Oli. The survey was conducted among 19,858 voters in 165 constituencies of 77 districts. The surveyors were deployed in every area of the country from October 16-30 for this purpose. The survey was conducted again for three days after the major political parties unveiled their election manifestos. Ruling coalition ahead According to the public opinion survey, it seems that the ruling coalition will garner more seats than the UML-Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) alliance. Nepali Congress will win 95-105 seats while CPN (Maoist Center) 30-40, CPN (Unified Socialist) 9-12, Democratic Socialist Party 2-4 and Janamorcha 1-2 seats combining the seats of FPTP and proportional representation categories. According to the survey, the UML will win 90-100 seats and JSP 8-12 seats. Meanwhile, Rastriya Swatantra Party will secure 10-15 seats, Rastriya Prajatantra Party 6-10, Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party (NWPP) and Nagarik Unmukti Party one each and independent candidates 6 to 10 seats. Nepali Congress will win 59-63 seats, CPN (Maoist Center) 17-21, CPN (Unified Socialist) 9-12, Democratic Socialist Party 1-4 and Janamorcha 1-2 seats under the FPTP category. UML is likely to win 47-52 seats and JSP 4-8 seats. Likewise, Rastriya Swatantra Party will be limited to 1-5 seats and RPP 2-6 seats. Most of the people want Oli to be Nepal’s next prime minister When asked, who will be the next prime minister of Nepal? Among the participants, 31.13 percent have chosen KP Sharma Oli. According to the survey, 20. 69 percent want Sher Bahadur Deuba to be the prime minister, 11.26 Pushpa Kamal Dahal, 12.06 others and 24. 86 voted for none. Even those who want to vote for other parties also like to see Oli as the prime minister. Similarly, when asked, who has had the best tenure among the prime ministers so far? Among the participants, 34.60 percent said KP Oli, 12.20 voted for Sher Bahadur Deuba, 13. 09 percent for Pushpa Kamal Dahal, 13. 33 percent for others and 26. 79 percent for none. UML will garner more seats under proportional representation category The people, who took part in the survey, said that UML will win 34 percent (40 seats), Nepali Congress 30 percent (36 seats), CPN (Maoist Center) 11 percent (14 seats) and Rastriya Swatantra Party 9 percent (10 seats). Likewise, Janata Samajbadi Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party will win 4 percent each (5 seats each). The Annapurna Media Network carried out this exclusive survey in coordination with Media Outlet. The 'margin of error' is considered to be 5 percent.

China has said that it will hold third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation next year to give a new boost to development and prosperity in Asia-Pacific and the wider world. Chinese President Xi Jinping made such statement while addressing the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Thailand. Xi called for building an Asia-Pacific of peace and stability, highlighting the critical importance of mutual respect, solidarity and cooperation, and consultation among all parties for the greatest denominator when something comes up, according to China Daily. Xi calls for promoting prosperity for all in Asia-Pacific. Xi stressed the need to make sure that development is for the people and by the people, and that its fruits are shared among the people, calling for efforts to promote prosperity for all in the Asia-Pacific.

The United States has notified El Salvador that the temporary protected status of its citizens and those of five other countries will be extended through June 30, 2024, Salvadoran Ambassador to the United States Milena Mayorga said Thursday, voanews.com reported. The other countries are Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras and Nepal, according to a document filed Thursday by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The action means their temporary protected status (TPS) will no longer expire on December 31, 2022, as previously scheduled. "Thanks be to God," said Mayorga, who tweeted the document, adding work visas for recipients would be valid for another 18 months. According to the American Immigration Council, TPS is provided to nationals of certain countries experiencing problems that make it difficult or unsafe to deport them back to those countries. The Department of Homeland Security announced the extension, set to be published next week, "to ensure its continued compliance" with two ongoing court cases, the document said. President Joe Biden's administration in October pulled out of settlement talks that could have provided further protections to the TPS enrollees from these countries, according to plaintiffs in the case.

The silence period of the election to the Member of the House of Representatives (HoR) and Province Assembly has come into effect from Thursday midnight. The election is taking place throughout the country in a single phase on November 20. According to the Election Code of Conduct, 2022, the silence period comes into effect from 48 hours before the voting day until the polls are closed. The voting under the election to the HoR and Province Assembly is taking place from 7 am to 5 pm on November 20. The Code of Conduct stipulates the conduct that the political party office-bearers, candidates, the sister organisations of the parties or related individuals have to abide by during the silence period. Election campaigning as well as any type of discussion, interaction, assemblies, workshop seminar and gatherings are not allowed during this period. Likewise, the Code of Conduct states that the election publicity materials of the political parties or candidates kept 300 metres around the polling station should be removed 48 hours before the voting day. Similarly, canvassing by any method, process or means, and posting or sharing any message, information or publicity material in support or against any political party or candidate on social sites, online, print or any medium is prohibited during the silence period.

Former prime minister and chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal  Dahal signed the Anti-Tobacco Pledge, campaigned by NDRI. In the signing  ceremony, he expressed his solidarity with the initiative.  Similarly, general secretary of Nepali Congress, Gagan Thapa also signed the pledge.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 400 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow bullion is being traded at Rs 98, 000 per tola today. The yellow metal was traded at Rs 98, 400 per tola on Wednesday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 97, 500 per tola. Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1,285 per tola today.

Nearly 18m Nepalis will head to the polling stations this Sunday to elect their representatives to the federal parliament and provincial assemblies. These legislatures will then elect new prime ministers, president and chief ministers for the next five years. Political parties and candidates are in the final leg of electioneering before the election silence takes effect, when campaigning in all forms is prohibited. Over the past few weeks, voters received a flood of candidates in their houses. It is up to the voters to decide the fate of the candidates, and, by extension, the fate of the country for the next five years. The election silence is the period afforded to voters to think and decide, so that they can vote according to their own personal conscience, without any fear, influence or pressures. But, if the past elections are anything to go by, our political parties do not seem to be committed to abide by the rule of election silence. They want to influence the voters through money, muscles and other means. During the local elections held in May, some party candidates were caught red-handed distributing cash to voters. Poor and marginalized communities are often targeted by unscrupulous candidates. The phenomenon of vote buying is not just limited to far-flung areas. There have been reports of candidates distributing money to urban voters as well. So, the next three days are a critical period when conscientious voters must remain on guard. Election observation organizations can also play a vital role in this silent period. So far, their primary focus has only been on Election Day. But, they should also be closely monitoring the activities of political parties, particularly when the voting day is just a few days ahead. They should report the malpractices of parties and candidates. But this has not been happening. Mainstream media too has a vital role to play to ensure free and fair elections. They must hold parties and candidates to account if they are found trying to influence the voters during the election silence period. But above all, the onus rests on political parties and candidates themselves. They should uphold the election laws and act responsibly. They get enough time to campaign. It’s only fair that they allow people to vote without any pressure.