KATHMANDU, March 14: The Election Commission (EC) has asked the government to deploy Nepal Army to provide security to Janak Shikshya Samagri Kendra, the venue where the election body is printing ballot papers for the upcoming local elections. 

Writing to the Ministry of Defense on Tuesday, the EC has asked the ministry to deploy Nepal Army to provide security to ballot papers and the printing venue. “A letter has been dispatched to the Ministry of Defense to this effect,” said EC Spokesman Surya Prasad Sharma. 

The EC is preparing to begin printing ballot papers from March 18 for the May 14 local elections.  Based on the details provided by the political parties, the EC has already designed ballot papers for 744 local units. 

The state-owned JSSK has been assigned the task of printing 15.5 million ballot papers while private firms will print the nomination forms and the by-laws and regulations required for the elections. JSSK has already procured 450 metric tons of printing paper, according to EC officials. Informed sources at the election body say they have tentatively completed all the internal preparations for the elections and the election environment will be visible once the registration of candidates takes place on April 29.

 
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