Chitwan, December 6

Preparations for provincial and parliamentary elections have been completed in Chitwan.

There are three parliamentary and six provincial constituencies in the district.

“Necessary preparations in all the 161 polling stations and 408 polling centres of the district have been completed,” said Chief Returning Officer Kul Prasad Sharma.

As many as 3,264 staffers and 1,627 volunteers have been deployed for elections in the district. A total of 12 staffers and volunteers have been mobilised at the centre having over 500 voters while 11 staffers and volunteers have been deployed at polling centres which have less than 500 voters, said Sharma.

Chief District Officer Narayan Prasad Bhatta urged all the voters to cast their ballots confidently as necessary security arrangements were in place across the district. Vehicular movement along the East-West Highway has also been banned from Wednesday mid-night until elections get over on Thursday, according to CDO Bhatta.

District Police Office Chitwan Chief SP Deepak Thapa said security has been tightened in the district. At least 12 to 49 security personnel were deployed on the basis of security sensitivity at each polling centre.  A total of 52 polling centres in the district are said to be highly sensitive. A team of 25 security personnel along with sniffer dogs have also been deployed to bolster security. As many as 60 mobile squads of Armed Police Force and 25 of Nepal Police led by Inspector and DSP will be patrolling for security of the district.

There are 354,036 voters in the district.

A tough race has been speculated between candidates of the democratic and left alliances in all three constituencies in Chitwan district.