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Security has been tightened at the Nepal–India border to ensure that the House of Representatives elections on Thursday are conducted in a peaceful  environment.

Madhav Prasad Pokharel, Chief District Officer of Rupandehi, said that an informal border coordination meeting was held with his counterpart from Maharajganj District in Uttar Pradesh, India, regarding the security in the border areas in view of the House of Representatives elections.

The informal discussion between officials of both countries and the monitoring of the border area were attended by Chief District Officer Pokhrel, along with Chief of Police and Deputy Superintendent of Police of the District Police Office Rupandehi Janak Bahadur Shahi, the Armed Police Force Deputy Inspector General Navaraj Bohara, and Prakash Acharya, Director of the National Investigation Department, from Nepal side.

Similarly, Santosh Kumar Sharma, the chief officer (DM) of the District Maharajganj in India, and SP Somendra Meena of the Indian police were also present.

Chief District Officer Pokharel stated that both parties discussed the issue of closing the border during the election and effectively implementing it. He said that the Indian side also showed interest in assisting in conducting the elections peacefully and fairly.

Considering the elections, all the border crossings with India in Rupandehi district have been closed for 72 hours from 12:00 midnight on Monday, March 2. 

The district administration has stated that all borders will remain closed until voting is completed on the election day, March 5.

Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has said that voting security has been fully ensured nationwide in view of the House of Representatives (HoR) elections taking place on Thursday.

During an interaction with the media at the Home Ministry today, the Minister, who also serves as the Government Spokesperson, assured that this election will be conducted in a credible, more impartial, and fearless environment compared to past elections. The interaction focused on the peace and security situation and preparations for the HoR polls–2026.

“The entire security mechanism has been mobilized up to the voting stations. If necessary, all preparations are in place to enable effective government control,” he said. He added that any unwanted activities during the election are punishable by law, and those responsible will be brought before the court.

He also shared details about the security plans of the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and the Nepal Army, if required.

The Home Minister urged voters to cast their votes with full understanding. “The election is not just a means of electing representatives; it also contributes to establishing political good governance,” he said.

He further informed that ballot paper management procedures will be carried out under the integrated election security plan, as in previous elections. 

The Minister assured of the safe collection and transportation of ballot papers to the respective election offices after voting.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that all preparations for the House of Representatives elections, scheduled for Thursday, have been completed.

In the virtual meeting with the chief district officers from all 77 districts held at the ministry this morning, it was reported that all managerial tasks, including election security and necessary arrangements, have been completed.

The virtual meeting of chief district officers from all 77 districts, chaired by Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Raj Kumar Shrestha along with senior officials of the ministry, reviewed the election preparations and security arrangements of all districts.

The meeting focused on election preparations, security arrangements and other related issues, joint-spokesperson of the ministry Rama Acharya said.

In the meeting, discussions were held on the election preparations in the districts, the current situation, and coordination to be undertaken by the central authority.

Spokesperson Acharya informed that the law and order situation, the precautions to be taken on election day, and security sensitivity were reviewed and an understanding was reached to formulate the upcoming strategy.

Home Secretary Shrestha instructed Chief District Officers to strengthen and make election security effective. 

In the meeting, the Chief District Officers from all districts reported that all staff, security mechanisms, and election materials had been transported to the polling stations.

The Election Observation Committee (EOC) Nepal has mobilized 700 national election observers across the country. 

EOC Nepal, one of the oldest organizations permitted to observe elections in the country, has deployed observers for both long-term and emergency purposes.

It stated that, compared to past elections, the use of social media is more widespread this time. 

The EOC has formed a special technical team to closely monitor potential violations of the election code of conduct through the misuse of cyberspace.

According to the organization’s Vice Chair, Badri Prasad Siwakoti, the continued dissemination of election publicity materials on digital platforms and social media, the sharing of digital content and messages intended to influence voters in favour of electoral candidates and parties, and the circulation of misleading content have led to breaches of the election code of conduct.

In view of the voting for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections taking place on March 5, the Election Commission (EC) has permitted 39 national organizations and four international organizations to observe the elections.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 1, 1000 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday. 

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 317, 600 per tola today.  It was traded at Rs 328, 600 per tola on Tuesday. 

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 275 and is being traded at Rs 5, 540 per tola.

Police have arrested four persons including Manoj Kumar Chaudhary, a candidate of the Nepali Communist Party for the House of Representatives elections from Parsa constituency- 2.

The joint inspection team of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force reported that they found a suspicious item inside a tin box tied with yellow tape in the back deck of the car ( Ba10 Cha 1250) during a security check. 

The vehicle was heading towards Badnihar from Harpur of Parsa. 

Chief of Parsa Police Sudip Raj Pathak said that all four individuals arrested with suspicious items are under investigation.

Those arrested include 46-year-old candidate Chaudhary, Sahab Alam Ansari of Prasauni Rural Municipality-4, Bara, Suraj Karki of Dhanushadham Municipality-4. Dhanusha, and Satya Narayan Tharu of Parsagadhi Municipality-3.

Similarly, the Parsa Police stated that a joint team of integrated security personnel detained three individuals along with nine units of Improvised Explosive Devices (sutali bombs), one pig's head, and 10 meters of wiring in Inarwa village, Ward 16, Birgunj Metropolitan City. The arrests were made based on a tip-off.

Hari Bahadur Basnet, Information Officer of Parsa Police, said that further investigation into the case is underway. 

The General Election Observation Committee (GEOC) has said the voters are excited and waiting eagerly to exercise franchise tomorrow. 

GEOC made public a report based on field visits and information it received at call centers in the run-up to the House of Representatives (HoR) elections. The atmosphere for HoR elections tomorrow is peaceful and arrangements are smooth, it added.

The organization studied the voting preparation, participation of political parties, coordination and challenges before election, Election Commission's preparation and security situation. On the basis of such information, GEOC released the report, concluding that the election atmosphere was peaceful and voters are eagerly waiting for the election day.

Even the discussions and talks were held with political parties, voters, candidates, civil society, chief district officers, election officers for the preparation of report, according to GEOC General Secretary Krishna Man Pradhan. "A free, fair and peaceful atmosphere is in place for the election tomorrow," the report mentioned. 

Professor Chiranjivi Khanal who was mobilized as the national election observer informed that election preparation was in full scale and over. 

GEOC has mobilized 400 election observers at 250 local levels of 36 districts for the HoR elections.

Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal candidate Asheshwor Yadav has been arrested for his alleged involvement in illegal activities during the silence period for the House of Representatives elections. 

Yadav is the party candidate in constituency no 3 of Siraha district. 

He was arrested along with Rs 487,000 last midnight. Leader Yadav and five other people were coming to Siraha district headquarters from Madar, an area bordering India. They were travelling by car (Pa 2-02-001 Cha 087). 

The cash was found during a security check, according to Ramesh Bahadur Pal, Deputy Superintendent of Police at District Police Office. All of them have been taken under control. 

Pal further said preparations arw going to send them to the Office of Chief Returning Officer.