Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that not a single drop of blood should be shed and not a single person should be injured during the upcoming elections in March.

Visiting the Nepali Army headquarters on Friday, she stressed that the elections must be conducted in a peaceful environment.

“Based on the experiences from past elections and an analysis of the various aspects of the upcoming polls, I direct all security agencies to work in a coordinated and flawless manner based on security sensitivities,” she said.

Prime Minister Karki visited the Nepali Army headquarters, to inspect and gather information about election-security preparations, said a statement released by the prime minister’s private secretariat. During the visit, the Nepal Army briefed her on the current security situation, major challenges, and upcoming plans. A presentation was also given on the army’s deployment plans and structure for election security, the statement added.

In the meeting, according to one participant, the army said clashes between disgruntled groups, open borders, and weather in the northern districts remain key challenges for the elections. The army also gave details of its mobilisation plan for one month, 15 days, and three days before the elections

Prime Minister Karki expressed confidence that the new government formed after the Gen Z movement would successfully complete the national responsibility of holding the parliamentary elections in a peaceful and secure environment.

After the briefing, the prime minister directed to chart out a clear plan to reassure the public about security, facilitate police operations, ensure safety, and create an environment where the political activities of all political parties can operate without hindrance.

She also urged the army to cooperate with the police and other security bodies to search for and recover the weapons looted or missing since the Gen Z movement, help restore normalcy, and assist in arresting fleeing criminals.

“Spare no effort in assisting the police,” she told the army.

Those accompanying the prime minister were Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, Law Minister Anil Kumar Sinha, Chief Secretary Sumanraj Aryal, and Chief of Army Staff Ashokraj Sigdel, among others.