Prime Minister Sushila Karki said on March 5 that voting in the mountain districts may be conducted in a second phase if extreme cold makes commuting difficult.

Speaking to the Post on the sidelines of a student training completion ceremony organised by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) at the Nepali Army barracks in Hattikhor, Nawalparasi, on Tuesday, Karki said the government would only opt for the second phase in exceptional circumstances.

She also outlined preparations to ensure smooth voting in remote mountainous areas, including relocating voters to locations accessible by road.

“If extreme cold disrupts election activities on the scheduled date, we can opt for the second phase,” the prime minister said.

Karki expected the election to be a milestone for ensuring stability and peace in the country.

Dismissing speculation about a possible delay, the prime minister said no one has raised the issue of postponing the election with her. “The election will not be postponed. It will be held on the scheduled date,” she told the Post.

She added that even the groups that were sceptical about the electoral process, citing various reasons, are now participating in the upcoming election. The development, she claims, reaffirms the government’s commitment to ensuring peaceful polls with an enthusistic participation across the country.

The overall poll expenditure will stand at around Rs30-32 billion, she said.