Snowfall Hampers Election Monitoring in Remote Manang Polling Stations

Manang. Even as the House of Representatives election approaches, some polling centers in Manang have not been monitored. This has been due to snowfall in the area, causing difficulties in monitoring the polling stations. Chief District Officer (CDO) Navaraj Poudyal informed that monitoring polling centers in Narpa Bhumi Rural Municipality has been particularly problematic due to snowfall.

He stated, "Geographical conditions and cold weather have affected the monitoring. Despite the challenges, nine polling centers in Manang Gyasumdo Rural Municipality have been monitored. While polling centers in Chame and Naso Rural Municipalities were monitored earlier, we have not been able to reach the centers in Narpa Bhumi."

It takes two days on foot to reach the polling centers in Narpa Bhumi from Chame, the district headquarters of Manang. There are five polling centers in the Nar area, covering Wards 1 to 3, and two centers in the Phu area, covering Wards 4 and 5 of Narpa Bhumi Rural Municipality.

CDO Poudyal mentioned that discussions are underway with the local government regarding the temporary relocation of polling centers to the district headquarters due to the difficulties in access and movement.

Narpa Bhumi Rural Municipality has 488 voters. District Election Officer Jivan Kunwar stated that polling centers have been established in all five wards, and discussions are ongoing regarding contingency plans if the weather remains unfavorable.

The district has a total of 7,000 voters, comprising 3,623 women and 3,377 men. In the House of Representatives election of 2079 BS, there were 6,779 voters, meaning 221 voters have been added this time.

In Manang, which has a single constituency, Tek Bahadur Gurung of the Nepali Congress, Yashoda Subedi Gurung of the CPN (UML), and Ram Bahadur Gurung of the Mongol National Organization are competing for the House of Representatives seat.