Butwal, Nepal: With the second phase of local level elections slated for June 28 drawing close to the door step, election fever has gripped the nation particularly the 35 districts of Provinces 1, 5 and 7.
Not only the candidates filed their nominations from the party and independent categories but also the cadres and supporters of the candidates are intensifying their door-to-door campaigns with intent to win the hearts and minds of the people.
Election related activities have been picked momentum in village to town with different programs. Rallies, mass assemblies, meetings and other activities are common in all the local units.
Central leaders from the different political parties have also been visiting the local units with the aim to influence the voters with different premises to make victorious to their candidates.
Considering to the possible violence related activities before, during and after the elections, the government has adopted the integrated security plan with the aim to hold the elections in a free and fair manner.
The government has stepped up security presence in the ‘sensitive areas’ to prevent anti-election activates. As the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal has been launching anti elections activities in the Terai districts, security presence is heightened in the districts.
Out of 334 local levels in 35 districts of Provinces 1, 5 and 7, about 75,000 candidates of 318 local units are vying in the second phase of elections in the 15 ,038 posts, including mayors, deputy mayors, chiefs and deputy chiefs of rural municipalities and ward chiefs.
The Election Commission is going to set up 4,581 polling locations and 8,364 polling centers for the second phase of elections. There are 6,432,765 eligible voters in 35 districts of Provinces 1, 5 and 7.
