Election Preparations Underway in Mustang, But Remote Village Faces Access Issues Due to Snow

Baglung. With the House of Representatives election on Falgun 21 approaching, election materials including ballot papers have reached most districts across the country. The District Election Office is currently arranging personnel deployment to the polling centers. However, in Sangta, a polling center in Mustang district, there is no sign of the election preparations. Locals who moved to the city to escape the cold have not yet returned to the village.

The monitoring team has not yet been able to reach Sangta village in Waragung Muktinath Rural Municipality-5. The road leading to Sangta village is impassable due to nearly seven feet of snow accumulation. Machinery has been used for the past five days to clear the road, informed Mustang's Chief District Officer (CDO) Anjita Sharma, adding that efforts are underway to open the road by Sunday.

She stated, 'There is one polling center and one polling station in Sangta village. We have not been able to reach there yet. Although there is no snow in the village itself, the road leading there is completely covered in thick snow, and clearing work has been ongoing for five days. We will reach there for monitoring as soon as the road opens.'

CDO Sharma mentioned that monitoring has already been completed for three polling centers in Tangya and Dhyey villages of Lo-Ghekar Damodar Kund Rural Municipality-5. The monitoring team reached these two villages after clearing snow from the access roads.

'We have monitored most of the polling centers and stations in Mustang, and we reached Tangya and Dhyey villages for monitoring just a few days ago,' she said, adding, 'If there is no snowfall in the coming days, the road to Sangta village will also open soon.'

She further informed that snow clearing remains for another four kilometers of the road. She added that voters who had moved to the city as the election neared have also started returning to the village. Sangta village has 13 households with a total population of 70, including 39 registered voters. Mustang has a total of 40 polling stations, including temporary ones.

• Only Four People in Sangta Village!

Lokendra Gyawali, Chief of the District Election Office, Mustang, informed that out of the 39 registered voters in Sangta, only four are currently in the village. He stated that other voters are in the city and are in the process of returning. Gyawali mentioned that local political parties are actively working to ensure voter participation.

He said, 'Sangta village is deserted right now. Only four shepherds are currently in the village. Others are on their way back. It is their custom to move to the city in Mangsir to escape the cold and return to the village from the last week of Falgun.'

According to the Chief of the District Election Office, Dhakal, preparations for the election are complete. He stated that ballot papers and materials will be sent to all forty polling centers starting Sunday. He mentioned that 216 personnel will be deployed for the election this time.

'There are 40 polling centers across the district, including temporary ones. All these centers have their ballot papers and materials packaged and ready,' he said, adding, 'We will send personnel to the distant polling centers tomorrow and to the nearby centers the day after.'

Chief Dhakal stated that if the weather does not change, the election can be conducted smoothly. He noted that the weather is currently normal, but snowfall would cause problems. He mentioned that discussions are ongoing with the candidates of the political parties to maximize voter participation in the election.

• Korala Checkpoint to Close for Three Days

The Korala checkpoint will be closed for three days for security during the upcoming House of Representatives election. The checkpoint will be closed from 12:00 AM on Falgun 18 until 12:00 AM on Falgun 21.

Mustang CDO Sharma informed that the decision to close the border crossing connected to China was made to ensure the election is conducted in a fear-free environment. She stated that the checkpoint will be completely closed for approximately 72 hours.

CDO Sharma mentioned that an integrated security unit comprising Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and the Nepali Army has been continuously patrolling the border area targeting the election. She added that security personnel have already been dispatched to the Upper Mustang region for election security.

She also stated that a ban on the sale, distribution, transportation, and consumption of intoxicating substances has been imposed across Mustang district since Friday night, targeting the election.