KATHMANDU: Chief Election Commissioner Ayodi Prashad Yadav has directed the security bodies to prepare work plans to hold the local level elections impartially, independently and neutrally and implement them accordingly.

Yadav on Friday said so while addressing the inauguration function of the two-day training programme 'Election and Security' organised for personnel of all the security agencies including Nepal Police, Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and National Investigation Department.

Mentioning security as a basic need of all the citizens, Yadav directed the security agencies to make effective security arrangements for the voters and even to keep in mind the security challenges of women candidates.

The Election Commission would assure that the local elections would be conducted on the announced date in a healthy, free and fearless environment, he added.

During the training today, Election Commissioner Sudhir Kumar Sah said that as the security bodies had expressed their commitment to take the responsibility effectively, the Commission would be able to conduct the polls properly as planned.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has planned to deploy 26,000 security personnel for the upcoming local elections.