PM Deuba arriving in Dailekh today

Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba is arriving in Dailekh today. PM Deuba and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal are coming to Surkhet and Dailekh, the two districts in Karnali Province, to address the election assemblies, Maoist Centre's Karnali Province Chairman Bimala KC said. According to KC, NC President Deuba, Maoist Centre Chair Prachanda and CPN (Unified Socialist) General Secretary Beduram Bhusal will address the election assemblies. The leaders are coming here to address the election assemblies – one to be held at Khaireni Bheri of Gurbhakot of Surkhet and another in Dailekh - after attending a program in Nawalparasi today.

NC leader Koirala pledges to amend National Park Act

Nepali Congress leader Shashanka Koirala, who is contesting the election for a seat in the federal House of Representatives, has expressed the commitment to amend the National Park Act for addressing the long-standing problem created by the wildlife and the national park in the park's buffer zone. Addressing an election assembly here today, he said the problem was due to the anachronistic Act which was enacted during the Panchayat period. He asserted that the Act needs to be amended for resolving the problems of the park-affected people. "Infrastructure development has not made headway in the settlements affected by the park and buffer zone. The left-democratic alliance government to be formed after the parliamentary election will amend the Act," leader Koirala said. He claimed that key programs such as distribution of land ownership certificates to the landless and construction of the Dumkibas highway have not moved ahead due to the hurdles created by the Act. He argued that the alliance's candidates should be made victorious in the election for minimizing the losses to humans and crops caused by the wildlife and providing proper compensation as well as to pursue the development in the park and buffer zone-affected areas. The NC leader reiterated that the construction process of the Narayani Corridor highway, connecting Gaindakot and Triveni, would be initiated immediately after the elections for raising the living standard of the people of the buffer zone.

Security arrangement in place for elections

Security arrangement is in place to hold the November 20 elections to the House of Representatives, and Provincial Assembly in a free, fair and peaceful atmosphere in Rolpa district. There are 177 polling centers and 86 polling stations in the district. The security arrangement has been categorized as- much sensitive, sensitive and normal. Among 86 polling stations, 31 polling stations are considered very sensitive. Thabag Rural Municipality has three such polling stations, while Triveni has one, Runtigadhi and Gangadev six each, Paribartan and Rolpa two each, Madi 1 and Sunchhahari and Lungri five each. The district security committee meeting held three months back had recommended for addition of five more polling centers based on population, geographical condition, transportation and security. Temporary polling centers are set up at Liwang prison office, and District Coordination Committee.

Alliance will form stable governments from province to federal levels if ensured victory: Dahal

CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman and former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the only agenda of the ruling alliance was good governance and development. He believed that once the alliance was ensured victory, it would form stable governments from province to federal levels. Addressing an election assembly organized by the democratic-left alliance at Rainas Municipality-4 in the district on Monday, Chairman Dahal argued, "There is a public wave for the alliance. It will bring political stability." The election this time has much significance because it is chiefly the battle between two forces- those for regression and those for progression. Chairman Dahal reminded that Nepali Congress and the Maoist party had made huge contributions to the peace process. He viewed that the construction of a corridor along Chepe, Dordi, Marsyangdi, Madi and Madi will assure elevation of people's lifestyle in Lamjung. On the occasion, senior leader of the Nepali Congress, Ramchandra Poudel, said it was the country's need to forge an electoral alliance, so the alliance party cadres must vote for the alliance candidates. According to him, the political change has ensured Singh Durbar in each village- to dalits, indigenous community, women and backward groups. The constitution must be made sustainable for the country's development, he underscored.

EC briefs diplomatic mission officials about election preparations

The Election Commission (EC) today briefed chiefs and representatives of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu about the preparations in regard with elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) and Province Assembly (PA), 2022. On the occasion, Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya apprised them of the plans and preparations that are in place to hold the voting for the twin elections on November 20 simultaneously in a free, fair, impartial and transparent manner. The Chief Election Commissioner applauded the international community for their support and cooperation for the efforts to make the elections a success. Chiefs and representatives from over 20 diplomatic missions in Kathmandu and representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present on the occasion. Election Commissioners and senior officials were also present on the program. EC Under Secretary and Planning, Monitoring and Foreign Relations section chief Kamal Bhattarai gave presentations about vivid aspects of the elections.

EC seeks clarification from nine election candidates in Banke

The Election Commission (EC) has sought clarification from nine election candidates in Banke for violating the Election Code of Conduct. They were found distributing rice to the public in attempts to woo voters, displaying banners, and not following the election norms and values, according to District Code of Conduct Monitoring Officer, Khadananda Adhikari. HoR independent candidates, Diwakar Khanal and Bageshwor Chaulagain, and candidates from the RPP Nepal, the Sadbhawana Party and the Janata Samajwadi Party are among those who were asked to submit clarification. Adhikari, who is also the Chief of District Treasury Controller Office, said political parties and candidates had been urged not to take help of unlawful means to influence voters while warning of action in the violation of the Code of Conduct.

Election preparations complete in Bhaktapur

Preparations for the elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly in Bhaktapur have been completed. Voting for the twin elections is taking place simultaneously across the country on November 20. Chief District Officer Rudra Devi Sharma said that 2,008 security personnel will be mobilized for the election purpose. All polling officers have been deputed to the polling stations with required logistics. "We are confident that the voting will conclude in a peaceful, free and cordial atmosphere." The district has 76 polling stations and 219 polling centers while the number of eligible voter is 193,172 (51,422 females and 49,839 males in the Bhaktapur constituency-1 and 47,062 females, 44,844 males and five others in the constituency-2).    

Women to look after eight polling centers in Myagdi

Women have got the leadership to look after eight polling centers in Myagdi district. Female returning officers have been assigned to take care of eight polling centers out of the total 120, said the office of the chief returning officer. The move means to make polling centers for the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and the Province Assembly inclusive, said assistant returning officer Tej Prasad Paudel. The voting is scheduled for November 20. The polling center in Beni Municipality-2 has got all female employees including the returning officer and assistant returning officer. "We have put women in priority in selecting employees for the polls," he said. The polling centers that have got female returning officers include the ones at Mukti Marga Secondary School, Ghar (B), Takam Secondary School, Takam (A), Ram Chandra Secondary School, Arjam, Rastriya Secondary School, Neptechaur (B), Janapriya Secondary School, Darbang (A), Himal Basic School Patlekhet, temporary center prison and Mangala Secondary School, Babiyahcaur. This has encouraged women employees assigned for the elections. "I am glad to have taken this responsibility for the polls," said a returning officer, Ambika Sharma. Meanwhile, the office of the chief returning officer has urged all to make polling centers disabled people friendly.