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Twenty-nine polling stations, out of 43, in the Chitwan electoral constituency have been assessed as 'highly sensitive' in view of the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) by-election. The by-polls are being held in three constituencies including Bara-2 and Tanahun-1 on April 23. According to Chitwan Chief District Officer Surendra Poudel, polling stations here have been categorized as normal, sensitive and highly sensitive. Despite the categorization, all polling stations are equally significant and the district administration is preparing to beef up security targeting them. The by-polls are obviously the concerns of political parties, civil society, people and the security mechanism, it is said. The decision about the mobilization of Nepali Army during the election will be taken by the government and at the moment, the Chitwan District Administration is busy working on the election security plan with the mobilizations of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and the National Investigation Department. The security arrangements will be made in such a way so that each citizen and a voter could feel safe during the election time. Security forces shall reach the entire polling stations by April 20. There are 124,695 voters in the Chitwan-2 for the April 23 by-elections and the voting will take place in 138 polling centers under 43 polling stations. By-election is required here after the Supreme Court decided to annul the HoR membership of Rabi Lamichhane, the President of Rastriya Swatantra Party who was elected here this constituency in the November-20 election, over his citizenship issue. A total of 22 candidates including Jeet Narayan Shrestha of Nepali Congress (ruling alliance), CPN-UML's Ram Prasad Neupane and RSP Chair Lamichhane will be competing for the HoR seat from here.  

Padam Limbu, who lost his life during the protest against the naming of Koshi Province, has been declared martyr on Friday. A Cabinet meeting held this morning decided to declare Limbu as a martyr. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kiranti said that the government has also decided to provide compensation to his family. Limbu, who was injured following a clash with security personnel during the protest held in Biratnagar on March 19, breathed his last during the course of treatment on March 24.  

The code of conduct for the by-elections slated for April 23 will come into effect from Friday. According to the Election Commission, the code of conduct will remain in force in Chitwan, Bara and Tanahun districts from April 7 to till the completion of the elections. EC Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Paudel said the EC is implementing the code of conduct by exercising the right granted to it by clause 22 of the Election Act, 2017 and clause 1 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2079 BS. The lower house by-elections are taking place in Chitwan constituency-2, Bara-2 and Tanahun-1. Federal government and government ministers, province government and province ministers, constitutional bodies and their officials, Nepal government or province government bodies and their officials, local executive and its members, employees of federal, province and local levels, security bodies, security personnel and employees are required to be abiding by the elections code of conduct. Likewise, government and semi-government offices and public organizations and their employees, political parties and their sister organizations, candidates and the their relatives, political parties and election representatives of candidates, people holding the public post, observation  committee officials and monitors, observation institutions and observers, media and its employees, journalists, private and non-government organizations and their officials and employees, schools, universities and their teachers and employees, voters, development partners, projects operated by the government and semi-government levels and their employees,  bodies and people engaged in voter education programs, private banks and finances, cooperatives, corporate and industries and their officials, employees and workers officials of goods and service providing sectors, their employees and workers should abide by the elections code of conduct.  

Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal called on Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Thursday. In the meeting held at the Beijing-based Foreign Ministry, they discussed bilateral relationship between Nepal and China, exchange of visits, development cooperation, trade, investment and tourism among others issues. Nepali Ambassador to China Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, Joint Secretary at the Foreign Ministry Lok Bahadur Thapa and senior officials at the Foreign Ministry of both the countries and high-ranking officials were present in the meeting. The 15th meeting of the Bilateral Diplomatic Consultation Mechanism between Nepal and China will be held on Friday. A Nepali team led by Foreign Secretary Paudyal had reached Beijing to take part in the meeting.