KATHMANDU, Nov 29: Nepal Police has begun preparations to recruit more than 132,000 temporary police personnel for the March 5 election to the House of Representatives—at least 15,000 more than were mobilized in the previous polls.
Temporary police form the innermost layer of the election security arrangement and play a key role in ensuring that voters can cast their ballots freely. Officials said the final number may rise depending on the number of polling centres approved by the government.
More than 835,000 new voters have registered for the upcoming election. The Election Commission generally adds one polling centre for every 1,000 additional voters in an electoral area.
“The government will take the final decision on adding polling centres. We will announce vacancies for temporary police recruitment immediately after that,” said DIG Abi Narayan Kafle, spokesperson for Nepal Police. He added that the selection criteria have already been circulated to provincial and district offices, and staffing requirements will become clearer once the additional centres are finalized.
Temporary police deployed during the election will receive the same basic salary, uniforms and travel allowances as regular Nepal Police personnel.
The Central Security Committee has drawn up a three-phase security plan covering the pre-election period, polling day and the post-election phase. The President has already approved the mobilization of the Nepali Army on the recommendation of the federal government. Under the security plan, Nepal Police will form the first security ring, the Armed Police Force the second, and the Army the third, with temporary police supporting the regular force.
During the voter registration period which concluded on November 21, authorities added 344,914 voters through biometric enrolment and 492,180 through the national identity card system. Including those who turned 18 by November 1, the total number of voters has reached 18,168,023.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has stepped up preparations to finalize polling centres for the election. Officials said the surge in new voters will require an increase in the projected number of polling stations.