KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 6

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that the government is making every effort to ensure safe, free, and fair elections.

During a meeting with a delegation from the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) on Thursday, Prime Minister Karki reaffirmed the government's commitment to maintaining maximum security arrangements to guarantee free and fair polls.

ANFREL, an international network of election observers headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, dispatched a delegation led by its Executive Director, Brizza Rosales, to Kathmandu to assess Nepal's electoral environment.

The delegation expressed hope that Nepal would conduct free and fair elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Karki, who brings to the role her long experience as a judge and former Chief Justice. They noted that her legal and judicial background would contribute significantly to political reform and the strengthening of democratic institutions in the country.

Responding to their remarks, Prime Minister Karki said the international observers' keen interest in Nepal's elections reflects a positive atmosphere for democratic exercise.

'The major mandate of this government is to hold the March 5 election, and we are fully focused on it. Civil society and observers also have vital roles in creating an environment conducive to elections. Your presence reinforces the sense of an active electoral climate,' she stated.

The ANFREL delegation was accompanied by office bearers and members of the National Election Observers' Committee (NEOC). They recommended that the government launch a widespread voter awareness campaign, noting the significant number of youths who will be casting their ballots for the first time.

The government has intensified preparations for the March 5 election to the House of Representatives (HoR).