KATHMANDU, JANUARY 2 Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel, who also serves as the Government Spokesperson, expressed confidence that the March 5 election to the House of Representatives is now unstoppable. Speaking to the media at Bharatpur Airport on Friday, Minister Kharel said, 'The election announced for March 5 will be held at any cost. It will be conducted in an impartial and calm atmosphere.' He noted that the Election Commission (EC) has been working at a rapid pace on election-related activities. 'Over 64 political parties have submitted their closed lists of candidates for the Proportional Representation (PR) system,' he added, noting that more than one million new voters have been registered. He also highlighted that with the recent appointment of new leadership in the Nepal Police, the morale of police personnel is high. The Minister further assured that the government has already secured the necessary workforce and budget to conduct the democratic exercise. 'Political parties have already begun their election publicity campaigns in the districts and are preparing to nominate candidates for the direct election system,' he said. According to him, public and media discussions are now entirely focused on the elections, leaving no doubt regarding their timely conduct. As the Government Spokesperson, Minister Kharel emphasized that his role is to ensure the success of the election process and is not affiliated with any political party. 'I have not yet decided whether to contest the election,' he declared, adding that his priority is to create an election-friendly atmosphere. 'I am actively engaging with political party offices to build an environment conducive to free and fair elections. In my capacity as a member of the Council of Ministers, I am responsible for assisting the Prime Minister in this election mission. We are committed to ensuring a fair and impartial election on the scheduled date,' he explained. He also highlighted that the government is progressing in laying the foundation for good governance alongside election preparations. On a separate note, Minister Kharel observed that it is the personal right of sitting ministers to decide whether to contest elections. 'However, one thing is essential,' he said. 'If someone chooses to compete in the election, they must not misuse the post they hold. Their decision to serve the nation and engage with citizens should not be hindered in any way.'