The government has stepped up measures to secure election offices across the country as blasts targeting candidates and campaigns continue.

Visitors to election offices, including the Election Commission headquarters, are under watch. Security personnel have started checking the person and bags of visitors at the EC headquarters in Kantipath, Kathmandu, which was not a common sight until recently. Vehicles entering the office were inspected while visitors required passes on Monday. Even election staffers are subjected to security checks, according to Election Commissioner Sudhir Shah.

Security around regional and district election offices, offices of the chief election officers and the election officers and polling stations has been tightened, according to the EC. Security has been tightened around the election offices in Nuwakot after Nepali Congress candidate Ram Sharan Mahat was attacked on Friday. Gopal Lamichhane, election officer for Constituency-1, said police deployment and vigilance have both increased in the recent days.

Since CPN (Maoist Centre) candidate and minister Janardan Sharma was targeted in a bomb attack in Rukum on November 10, security has been heightened in Rukum (West). Banshi Kumar Acharya, chief district officer for Rukum (West), said they have increased mobility of teams in sensitive areas.

Rukum is considered as a district where the Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN has visible presence. Election offices in Tanahun, where NC candidate Ram Chandra Poudel came under attack two days ago, have got better security cover. Tanahun Chief Election Officer Arjun Prasad Koirala said the number of police and armed police personnel has been increased.