Except for a few sporadic cases of violence, the second phase of elections held on Thursday to the House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies was largely peaceful. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, no major incidents of violence were reported from the country.

With a series of incidents of blast in various parts of the country ahead of the polls, there were apprehensions over the security arrangement. However, the second phase of polls went off peacefully throughout 45 districts on Thursday. A sporadic incidents of violence were reported which were effectively handled, the Nepal Police said.    

Over 200,000 security personnel were used in the lead up to the second phase of elections. According to MoHA, around 65,000 Nepal Police, 30,000 Armed Police Force, more than 98,000 temporary police, around 34,000 Nepal Army and personnel from the National Investigation Department were deployed for Thursday’s polls.

In line with the integrated security arrangement of the government, the Nepal Police held the command inside the polling stations and centres, with the APF being deputed as backup. As well as providing a security cover on the periphery of the polling stations and centres, the Nepal Army also conducted air patrolling.

“Elections were held peacefully. Now the ferrying of ballot boxes is under way. The ballot boxes from a few polling stations in Kavre, Achham and Doti will be airlifted,” said MoHA Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Sharma Duwadi.

Chand-party bombers arrested

Police on Thursday arrested Ravi Goley, Kathmandu Valley chief of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), charging him with planting bombs inside the Valley. Police said Goley and his team were also behind the IED blast in Chapali that injured Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa on Monday. Goley was arrested from Bandegaun of Lalitpur district. Police have also arrested his six aides, including two district committee members of the party, from different locations in the Valley. Police said that the recent spate of blasts in the Valley were executed under Goley’s leadership. Four IEDs were recovered from Goley’s house in Basundhara, Kathmandu on Wednesday. A bomb disposal squad of the Nepal Army had defused the explosives in his house on Wednesday evening. Police also confiscated a Chinese pistol and eight rounds of bullet from Goley.

CPN-UML: A new era, of prosperity, begins

The CPN-UML has expressed its satisfaction over conclusion of the federal parliamentary and provincial assembly elections despite a spike in violent incidents in the run-up to the polls.

Even as voter turnout remains lower than that for the local level elections and party cadres were assaulted, the UML voiced satisfaction at the successful holding of polls after promulgation of the new constitution in 2015.

“Despite the arbitrary working style and reluctance of the political leadership, the polls have finally been held. The party thanks all the voters,” Spokesperson for the UML’s Election Mobilisation Committee Bishnu Rimal said in a statement.

The party expressed its hope that the protracted political transition would come to an end and a “new era of national unity, stability, development and prosperity” begin.

Step towards political stability, Dahal remarks

Chairman of CPN (Maoist Centre) has expressed belief that the conclusion of elections to the House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies would widen the path of political stability and economic prosperity.

In a statement issued on Thursday evening, Dahal has said the elections were held largely peacefully and with much enthusiasm, except for some sporadic incidents of violence.

“These elections were not mere repetition of the past but a new beginning for the future,” Dahal said in the statement.

By enthusiastically participation in these elections, the Maoist Centre chief said, the Nepali people have fulfilled a historic responsibility for the institutionalisation of achievements obtained through various struggles and many sacrifices. Dahal also thanked the Election Commission for successfully holding the elections.

“The success of the polls would lead to a political stability in the country. This would lead to us to prosperity,” he said. (PR)