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The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that all preparations for the House of Representatives elections, scheduled for Thursday, have been completed.

In the virtual meeting with the chief district officers from all 77 districts held at the ministry this morning, it was reported that all managerial tasks, including election security and necessary arrangements, have been completed.

The virtual meeting of chief district officers from all 77 districts, chaired by Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Raj Kumar Shrestha along with senior officials of the ministry, reviewed the election preparations and security arrangements of all districts.

The meeting focused on election preparations, security arrangements and other related issues, joint-spokesperson of the ministry Rama Acharya said.

In the meeting, discussions were held on the election preparations in the districts, the current situation, and coordination to be undertaken by the central authority.

Spokesperson Acharya informed that the law and order situation, the precautions to be taken on election day, and security sensitivity were reviewed and an understanding was reached to formulate the upcoming strategy.

Home Secretary Shrestha instructed Chief District Officers to strengthen and make election security effective. 

In the meeting, the Chief District Officers from all districts reported that all staff, security mechanisms, and election materials had been transported to the polling stations.

The Election Observation Committee (EOC) Nepal has mobilized 700 national election observers across the country. 

EOC Nepal, one of the oldest organizations permitted to observe elections in the country, has deployed observers for both long-term and emergency purposes.

It stated that, compared to past elections, the use of social media is more widespread this time. 

The EOC has formed a special technical team to closely monitor potential violations of the election code of conduct through the misuse of cyberspace.

According to the organization’s Vice Chair, Badri Prasad Siwakoti, the continued dissemination of election publicity materials on digital platforms and social media, the sharing of digital content and messages intended to influence voters in favour of electoral candidates and parties, and the circulation of misleading content have led to breaches of the election code of conduct.

In view of the voting for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections taking place on March 5, the Election Commission (EC) has permitted 39 national organizations and four international organizations to observe the elections.

Police have arrested four persons including Manoj Kumar Chaudhary, a candidate of the Nepali Communist Party for the House of Representatives elections from Parsa constituency- 2.

The joint inspection team of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force reported that they found a suspicious item inside a tin box tied with yellow tape in the back deck of the car ( Ba10 Cha 1250) during a security check. 

The vehicle was heading towards Badnihar from Harpur of Parsa. 

Chief of Parsa Police Sudip Raj Pathak said that all four individuals arrested with suspicious items are under investigation.

Those arrested include 46-year-old candidate Chaudhary, Sahab Alam Ansari of Prasauni Rural Municipality-4, Bara, Suraj Karki of Dhanushadham Municipality-4. Dhanusha, and Satya Narayan Tharu of Parsagadhi Municipality-3.

Similarly, the Parsa Police stated that a joint team of integrated security personnel detained three individuals along with nine units of Improvised Explosive Devices (sutali bombs), one pig's head, and 10 meters of wiring in Inarwa village, Ward 16, Birgunj Metropolitan City. The arrests were made based on a tip-off.

Hari Bahadur Basnet, Information Officer of Parsa Police, said that further investigation into the case is underway. 

The General Election Observation Committee (GEOC) has said the voters are excited and waiting eagerly to exercise franchise tomorrow. 

GEOC made public a report based on field visits and information it received at call centers in the run-up to the House of Representatives (HoR) elections. The atmosphere for HoR elections tomorrow is peaceful and arrangements are smooth, it added.

The organization studied the voting preparation, participation of political parties, coordination and challenges before election, Election Commission's preparation and security situation. On the basis of such information, GEOC released the report, concluding that the election atmosphere was peaceful and voters are eagerly waiting for the election day.

Even the discussions and talks were held with political parties, voters, candidates, civil society, chief district officers, election officers for the preparation of report, according to GEOC General Secretary Krishna Man Pradhan. "A free, fair and peaceful atmosphere is in place for the election tomorrow," the report mentioned. 

Professor Chiranjivi Khanal who was mobilized as the national election observer informed that election preparation was in full scale and over. 

GEOC has mobilized 400 election observers at 250 local levels of 36 districts for the HoR elections.