KATHMANDU, Nov 24: Stage has been set for the first round of the parliamentary and provincial elections scheduled for Sunday with all logistics and managerial preparations for the same completed. 

Poll officers deployed for 37 parliamentary constituencies in 32 districts have reached their assigned election centers. The officials, according to election commissioners, have started setting up polling centers and distributing voter identity cards. 

Second round of the elections will be conducted on December 7. 

“Except for setting polling centers, we have completed all other preparations. Now, all that remains is for the voters to visit their respective polling centers and cast their ballots,” said election commissioner Narendra Dahal. 

Logistics required for polls have already been transported to the districts covered in the first round of the elections. Security forces have been deployed in large numbers in the districts to meet any security challenges. “Security situation is gradually getting normalized with many poll-opposing individuals arrested from various parts of the country,” said commissioner Dahal. 

Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department and the Nepal Army have been deployed across the country to ensure free and fearless elections. The army has taken responsibility of guarding vital installations sending police forces to secure voters. Army will be placed in the third security ring of the polling center. Also, the army has been given the responsibility of safeguarding the ballot papers. The paramilitary force, APF, will be in the security ring, between the police and the army.

Altogether 64,020 army soldiers have been deployed on the ground from Friday, according to the Nepal Army. Besides the army, 98,000 temporary police and a large number of police personnel are deployed for poll security. Reserve force and air patrolling teams have been kept on the standby.

The army defused bombs and IEDs planted by poll-opposing groups in 33 different places in recent two weeks. 

The upcoming elections will elect 165 members of central parliament and 330 members of the provincial assemblies to be formed in seven provinces under the first-past-the-post electoral system. Similarly, 110 members of the central parliament and 220 members of the provincial assemblies will be elected under the proportional representation system.