The central security agencies have categorized the district as highly sensitive in terms of security. [break]
Ram Kumari Chaudhari, an UCPN (Maoist) candidate for the constituency-2, has demanded police protection, stating she can not conduct poll campaign in a fearless manner.
“I have hectic schedule as the election draws near. Although they have not directly approached me, the groups opposing the election have been threatening our cadres not to conduct the poll campaign,” said Chaudhari.
However, she did not specify the group that is threatening her. “Despite the threat, I am holding full-fledged campaign. Although I have not received any direct threat, I am still apprehensive,” she added.
She was of the opinion that the administration should be more serious about improving the security situation as the poll candidates are needed to go around the constituencies in the night time, too.
She also informed that the administration have vowed to provide police guard to all the candidates for their campaigns. The District Administration Office have provided police protection to the Bhagawati Chaudhari, a CPN-UML candidate from constituency-3, after she complained that she has been feeling insecure.
Bhagawait Chaudhari is a former state minister for forest and soil conservation. Likewise, Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, Madhesi People´s Right Forum Democratic (MPRF-D) candidate in the district, has also received police protection.
He has served as the Deputy Prime Minister besides holding numerous high profile portfolios in the past. In the view of volatile security situation in the district, Nandan Kumar Dutta, former agriculture minister, who has been contesting in the election, has also received police protection.
MPRF-D candidate under proportional representation system, Hemanta Kumar Khatwe, and Raj Kumar Yadav, the first-past-the-post candidate of the same party for the constituency-5, have also demanded police protection.
Altogether 223 candidates from different parties including independents are in the poll fray in the district.
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