The government has identified potential boycott by the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, activities of the Communist Party of Nepal led by Netra Bikram Chand and the open border with India among the security threats for the second phase of local level elections scheduled for June 14.

In a meeting held at the Election Commission headquarters between the top officials of the EC, the Home Ministry and the security agencies on Saturday, possible threats for the second-phase polls were discussed.

Underground armed outfits in the Tarai whose activities are now subdued, secessionist groups such as the one led by CK Raut, ethnic groups in the eastern Hills and the elements that could attempt to disturb social and communal harmony have been identified as other security challenges.

“The Home Ministry will prepare and submit a security strategy and action plan to the EC on May 29 on the basis of these threats,” said Election Commissioner Sudhir Shah.

After holding the first round of local polls on May 14 in a largely peaceful manner, the country is gearing up for the second-phase vote in provinces 1, 2, 5 and 7.

The Madhes-based parties including the RJPN have warned of boycotting and disrupting the polls if their demands for constitution amendment to reshape the boundaries of the provinces and to address other issues are not fulfilled. They have also demanded that the number of local units be increased in the Tarai in proportion to the population.

While the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal led by Upendra Yadav participated in the first phase of local polls in collaboration with the Naya Shakti Party, the RJPN that was formed after a merger of six Tarai-based parties stayed away from the May 14 polls.

The outfit led by Chand was involved in anti-election campaigns and in seizing of ballot boxes in Kalikot. “Their activities may be witnessed in the second phase too,” said Shah.

Although the government seals Nepal-India border points on the polling day, there remains the possibility of infiltration of criminal elements from the porous border.

The meeting also identified about 1,000 polling centres—both in the Hills and the Tarai—as highly sensitive.

Considering the clashes in Dolakha that led to the death of one party supporter in the run-up to the May 14 vote, the EC plans to hold a meeting with top leaders of the parties to request them to instruct their cadres at the grassroots to avoid confrontation.

“The number of security personnel to be deployed will be based on the ground reality,” said Bal Krishna Panthi, spokesperson for the Home Ministry. “The security personnel and temporary police recruits mobilised in the first phase of local polls could also be deployed during the second-round polls.”

Temp cops to be retained for 20 extra days

KATHMANDU: The Home Ministry has asked for a Cabinet decision to extend the term of 75,000 temporary police personnel by 20 days.

The temporary police were first recruited for 55 days considering that the local polls would be held in a single phase on May 14. After the decision to hold the polls in two phases, there was confusion over how to mobilise the temporary recruits in the second phase. (PR)