Election Commission to Expedite Ballot Delivery to Remote Karnali Districts

Karnali. Election Commission Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut has stated that ballots will be sent soon to the high-altitude districts of Karnali Province.

At a meeting of the Provincial Election Security Committee held on Friday at the District Administration Office in Surkhet, Birendranagar, Secretary Raut assured that the Election Commission will leave no stone unturned to successfully conduct the election under specific circumstances. He said, "The allowances, transportation, and helicopter expenses for the personnel deployed to the polling centers with election materials have already been sent. The Commission will undertake further work as needed."

Stating that the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has been requested to provide a weather forecast from Falgun 10 to the end of the month, he mentioned that preparations are underway to send ballots to Humla, Mugu, and Dolpa for the elections in the high-altitude districts by Falgun 9, 10, and 11. Secretary Raut added that a budget has been sent to the respective District Election Offices for the purchase of medicine, keeping in mind the risk of altitude sickness in districts above three thousand meters.

Security chiefs requested at the meeting that arrangements be ensured for the travel of personnel deployed to polling centers before and after the election in the high-altitude districts of Karnali Province. Emphasis was also placed on the Commission providing an opportunity for the personnel deployed in the election to exercise their right to vote. Laxmikumar Bik, the acting secretary of the Karnali Provincial Government and coordinator of the Provincial Command Post, and Jagdishwar Upadhyay, the Chief District Officer of Surkhet District and chairman of the District Command Post, presented on the status of election preparations, security challenges, and problems.

Chief Election Officer Deepak Dhakal of Surkhet District Constituency No. 2, Brigade Commander Assistant Brigadier Sanjay Ranjit of the North-West Division Surkhet, and other heads of security agencies stated that security arrangements have been strengthened focusing on the election.

For the upcoming House of Representatives election in Karnali Province, there are 12 constituencies, 1,024,606 voters, 959 polling stations, and 1,438 polling centers.