KATHMANDU, Oct 26: In the wake of anti-poll activities being intensified by the alliance led by the CPN-Maoist and armed groups in the Tarai, which are opposed to the upcoming Constituent Assembly election, the government has stepped up measures against such activities in order to foster a conducive poll environment.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the security agencies have stepped up vigilance over the leaders and cadres of the 33-party alliance so that no untoward incident takes place, and beefed up security for the candidates.[break]
More authority has been delegated to local government authorities to take immediate action against such anti-election activities. “The Integrated Election Security Plan has been reviewed somewhat as per the demands and suggestions of local government authorities after cadres of the anti-poll alliance turned violent and breached the election code of conduct,” according to a high-level security source.
As the situation is different compared to the earlier CA election, the security strategy that was developed on the basis of that election has been reviewed, the security source said.
“At the conclusion of the regional security meetings, the government realized the need for some changes in the security strategy but the security authorities have over all done a splendid job to date,” said Aatma Ram Pandey, secretary at the Ministry of Defense.
CPN-Maoist cadres attacked a poll candidate in Taplejung district, vandalized a vehicle used in election campaigning by the CPN-UML candidate in Dang, and a bomb was planted in Siraha to foil the electioneering.
“Despite some incidents against the poll, the security situation is good in comparison to the earlier election and the security agencies have been mobilized in earnest so that untoward activities do not take place,” a joint-secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs said. But it is normal to have some minor anti-poll activities during elections and compared to the earlier election the recent disruptive activities are minimal, he added.
Local government authorities have also expressed serious concern over the contesting political parties deliberately scheduling their election campaigns in the same venue at the same time.
In order to address this problem, local government authorities have been instructed to manage such simultaneous campaigns and seek support from the Election Commission in case the code of conduct is breached.
Because of some contradictions among the security agencies and the election commission over monitoring the political parties, problems were created in some places but that has been sorted out, according to the Home Ministry.
Army chief to begin field monitoring
Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana is scheduled to travel across the country to monitor the activities of Nepal Army personnel deployed in poll security.
According to Brigadier General Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, spokesperson of the Nepal Army (NA), CoAS Rana will monitor the activities of NA personnel commencing from Sunday or Monday.
The visit of CoAS Rana will not only encourage army personnel deployed in the field but also help in creating a conducive environment for the polls.
Defense Ministry Secretary Panday also informed that CoAS Rana will be accompanied by some senior NA officers and Ministry officials.
“NA has a significant role in this election and with its deployment the security situation has been strengthened across the country,” he said. The army will not be in the frontline but in case things get out of control for the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force (AFP), NA will take charge of the situation, under the coordination of the District Security Committee, he added.
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