The army has set up a special election desk at Army Headquarters, Bhadrakali and has expedited discussions with different stakeholders, including top government officials. “Considering the election a national event, we established a special election desk about two weeks ago,” said Brigadier General Suresh Sharma, who is also NA spokesperson. [break]
The election desk is to analyze the challenges involved in the election, collect election related information and monitor army intelligence across the country, he said. The desk is headed by a colonel and a number of majors are working under him, according to NA´s Directorate of Public Relations (DPR).
"Once the government unveils a concrete security plan, we will expedite other preparations as per the responsibilities allocated by the government for holding a free and fair election," he said.
According to Defense Ministry sources, the government has already given NA the green signal to begin preparations for troop deployment at sensitive polling stations across the country.
At NA´s initiative, more than half a dozen high-level meetings have been held between Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khila Raj Regmi, CoAS Gaurav Shumsher Rana and other security authorities, according to the Ministry.
During the meetings, CoAS Rana has been extending all possible help to the election commission, but at the same time he has asked to make sure that credibility and professionalism are not compromised, according to a secretary at the Ministry. According to him, army teams comprising 10 to 150 personnel will be deployed at every election constituency, depending on the need.
Rana also suggested that the government come up with election related programs to help boost morale among the army personnel to be deployed in the field. CoAS Rana was indicating that the NA was facing a deficit of proper arms, logistics and transport, including helicopters, which are essential for proper security responses.
Aatma Ram Pandey, Secretary at the Ministry of Defense, said that the role of NA in the upcoming CA poll will dovetail with the developing political scenario in the country. The government has been mulling NA deployment in the same way as during the general election of 1999. But this time its responsibilities might be a little more, an official at the Defense Ministry said.
The army will be deployed for roles such as immediate rescue, bomb disposal, quick response in case of incidents and providing security from an outer circle, he said.
“We are in the last phase of preparations and NA, if deployed, will be in an important role,” said Home Ministry Spokesperson Shanker Prasad Koirala.
"As the country´s prime task has become the holding of the election on November 19, we are working closely with the government and other security agencies for the success of the election," Brigadier Sharma said.
"We are also trying to relocate our encampments flexibly in relation to the polling stations, and in some places this is going to be quite difficult. But we will manage somehow," Sharma said.
The government plans to deploy army personnel in sensitive locations such as prisons, revenue collection offices, hydro-power projects, industrial establishments, highly sensitive VIP and VVIP residential areas and the like. "Army personnel deployment during the election will ease our task and we can be more flexible in providing security in sensitive areas," said DIG Narayan Babu Thapa, spokesperson of the Armed Police Force (APF).
About 150,000 security personnel are needed for election security, according to police. During the previous CA election, the government had recruited around 70,000 temporary police personnel, and 54,000 Nepal police and 18,000 APF personnel were deployed.
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