Prime Minister Sushila Karki expressed concern about security and maintaining peace in the run-up to the upcoming elections.

During a visit to Rupandehi in Lumbini Province on Saturday to assess the election environment, the prime minister warned that clashes between political parties, under various pretexts, could disrupt the security situation and stressed the need for heightened vigilance.

“I have seen problems in various districts,” Karki said. “In the Terai, two or three parties are comparatively more active and influential. Attempts to play games over who will win and who will lose could turn into clashes. That is now a matter of concern for us.”

Stating that such confrontations could occur between parties themselves, she instructed security personnel to remain prepared. “Whether the situation worsens or not, we must be prepared,” she said. “There have already been reports that supporters of one party burnt the flags of another. Such incidents are likely to be more frequent in the days to come. Preparation is necessary.”

The prime minister remarked that although some parties have spoken of boycotting the elections, they are extremely weak and have raised the boycott issue out of fear of defeat.

“My findings show that there are small groups of just a few individuals who cannot even contest elections and are not connected with the people,” she said. “We cannot blame everyone. But some individuals raise money through extortion and maintain the party’s existence simply by announcing they will not contest. The party survives, and money continues to be collected. This trend has been observed.”

Prime Minister Karki noted that some individuals use party affiliation to promote their business or industrial interests, and urged the authorities to remain cautious.

She also expressed concern over the approaching Holi festival and the possibility of weather-induced challenges, including potential snowfall in the mountainous region, particularly in Rukum East.