KATHMANDU, Dec 22: As the March 5 election approaches, the government has intensified security preparations across five provinces, holding continuous coordination meetings to ensure polls are conducted on schedule. The meetings, which began on November 25, are still underway. Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said the focus is firmly on the upcoming election and that a conducive environment is gradually taking shape.
The government says it has recovered most of the 1,342 weapons looted during the Gen-Z movement, restored operations at all 465 police offices damaged during the protests, and secured a budget of Rs 6.73 billion for the Election Commission (EC).
It also claims that voting rights have been ensured for 837,000 new youths even after the election date was announced. In contrast, the country’s two major parties—the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML—remain more focused on demanding the reinstatement of the House of Representatives (HoR) than on election preparations. Both parties are preparing to submit lawmakers’ signatures to the Supreme Court seeking HoR restoration. Other parties, too, have struggled to generate an election atmosphere, with even unity rallies failing to build momentum.
While political parties appear sluggish, the government has moved swiftly. Alongside drafting security plans, forming election cells within security agencies, and holding regional security meetings, Nepal Police has proposed recruiting 140,000 “election police” to ensure security for the March 5 polls.
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This figure exceeds the 136,000 temporary police personnel recruited during the 2079 BS elections. The government says the increase reflects heightened security challenges and a rise in the number of polling centers.
Under the Integrated Election Security Plan 2082 BS, the Nepal Army will play a coordinating role alongside Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force (APF), and the National Investigation Department. The Army says it is preparing to ensure a fear-free election environment in coordination with the public.
Security plans are being disseminated down to the grassroots level. During the polls, the Army will operate from the third security ring, guard key installations, and provide security for ballot printing and ballot box transportation. “The Army is fully prepared to ensure a safe and fear-free election,” said Nepal Army spokesperson Assistant Brigadier General Rajaram Basnet.
Nepal Police is also moving ahead under the House of Representatives Member Election Integrated Security Plan 2082 BS, drawing on past election experience. “By maximizing available resources and implementing EC decisions, Nepal Police is fully committed to conducting the election successfully,” said police spokesperson DIG Abhinarayan Kafle.
Election-focused patrols have been intensified nationwide. So far, police have conducted 1,136 long-distance patrols and 389,960 short-distance patrols, deploying more than 1.34 million personnel. Authorities say patrols are being further strengthened to prevent vandalism, arson, and other election-related disruptions.
Police have also stepped up intelligence gathering, risk assessment, and monitoring to curb cross-border infiltration, misuse of social media, and threats to candidates, voters, journalists, and election infrastructure.
To neutralize risks from looted or missing weapons, special police teams have been deployed across all seven provinces to recover arms and arrest escapees from prisons and detention centers during past protests.
A Central Election Cell has been formed at Nepal Police Headquarters under Additional Inspector General Umaprasad Chaturvedi to oversee preparations.
Meanwhile, the Armed Police Force (APF) says it has completed most of its election security work. Special units have been deployed at border points to curb smuggling, and election-focused training has been provided to units from the center to the battalion level. “All security arrangements are in a state of readiness,” said APF spokesperson DIG Manish Thapa, adding that coordination with the Nepal Army and Nepal Police is ongoing.
