Talking to Republica on Sunday, Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety said, “Please ask them [political leaders] as to which law and act allows them to mobilize youth squads at the polling booths for security during election?” He also termed the announcement by leaders “political statements”.
Uprety made it clear that no squad apart from voters, security personnel, national and international election observers, a representative of each political party and candidates, election officials and volunteers deployed by the commission would be allowed at the polling booths.
Election Commissioner Dolakh Bahadur Gurung, who is also the coordinator of security committee at the commission, also took strong exception to the announcement by political parties. [break]
“Polling booths are not a place for making a show of strength,” said Gurung, adding, “It is the government´s duty to provide security for polls, not cadres of any political party.”
The remarks of top EC officials come at a time when the government is finalizing integrated security plan for the November polls.
Young Communist League (YCL), youth wing of UCPN (Maoist), on Sunday had announced that it will deploy 200 youths at each polling booth during the CA election in order to make sure that the polls are held freely and fairly.
Chief of YCL Ganesh Man Pun had also stated that YCL would help the authorities in bringing to book anyone attempting to disrupt the elections.
UCPN (Maoist) had decided to revive YCL in May in view of the upcoming CA elections scheduled for November 19.
The YCL was formed just before the last CA elections under the leadership of then PLA fourth division commander Ganesh Man Pun.
Similarly, Youth Federation Nepal (YFN), CPN-UML´s youth wing, on Saturday formed a Female Youth Force (FYF).
Chairman of YFN Mahesh Basnet has been repeatedly stating that they will mobilize youths at each polling booth during the new CA election.
YFN has already announced to revive Youth Force, which was dissolved by the mother party after the organization´s activities dragged the party into controversies.
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