29 polling stations highly sensitive in Chitwan in view of April 23 by-polls

Twenty-nine polling stations, out of 43, in the Chitwan electoral constituency have been assessed as the ‘highly sensitive’ in view of the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) by-election. The by-poll is being held in three constituencies including Bara-2 and Tanahun-1 on coming April 23. According to Chitwan Chief District Officer Surendra Poudel, polling stations here have been categorized as normal, sensitive and highly sensitive.

Despite the categorization, all polling stations are equally significant and the district administration is preparing to beef up security targeting them. The by-polls are obviously the concerns of political parties, civil society, people and the security mechanism, it is said. The decision about the mobilization of Nepali Army during the election will be taken by the government and at the moment, the Chitwan District Administration is busy in working on the election security plan with the mobilisations of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and the National Investigation Department.

The security arrangements will be made in such a way so that each citizen and a voter could feel safe during the election time. Security force shall reach the entire polling stations by April 20. There are 124,695 voters in the Chitwan-2 for the April 23 by-elections and the voting will take place in 138 polling centres under 43 polling stations. By-election is required here after the Supreme Court decided to annul the HoR membership of Rabi Lamichhane, the Chair of Rastriya Swatantra Party who was elected here this constituency in the November-20 election, over his citizenship issue.

A total of 22 candidates including Jeet Narayan Shrestha of Nepali Congress (ruling alliance), CPN (UML)’s Ram Prasad Neupane and RSP Chair Lamichhane will be competing for the HoR seat from here.