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US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R Thompson today paid a farewell call on President Ram Chandra Paudel. 

During the meeting held at the Office of the President, Shital Niwas, the two discussed matters relating to the Nepal-US ties, mutual interests and concerns, according to the Office of the President. 

Thompson has served as the US Ambassador to Nepal since October, 2022. 

The Nepal Army (NA) has geared up its preparations to mobilize 80,000 army personnel in the run-up to the House of Representatives (HoR) elections to be held on March 5. 

NA's Brigadier General and Spokesperson Rajaram Basnet informed that the army force would be mobilized in the elections in accordance with the endorsed Integrated Security Plan 2082 which has already been approved by the President. 

"In line with the directive of the Integrated Security Plan, the army personnel would be mobilized in the field a month ahead of the elections," he shared. 

The government has endorsed the Integrated Security Plan while the National Security Council has also approved the matter of mobilizing the Army for election security. 

The Army would work in three phases in the course of the elections. 

The NA would bear the major responsibility of providing security to ballot paper printing in the pre-election time and vital structures during the elections. 

In coordination and collaboration with the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, the NA would take up the responsibility for providing security to vital structures such as airports and prisons. 

In the course of the elections, the NA would run election-related integrated training and drills in coordination, collaboration and cooperation of four security agencies and district administration offices. 

The Army would assure the security of political parties, candidates, voters and employees deputed in the elections keeping itself in the third circle while being mobilized in the polling booths and centers. 

As it has done in the past, the Nepal Army has made preparations to set up security bases at different places of the country targeting the election. 

With the conclusion of the voting in the election on March 5, the Army will take the responsibility for the security of transporting the ballot boxes and the vote counting stations.

Security seminars are currently being conducted at the provincial level as well to ensure that the elections are held in a peaceful environment on the scheduled date, the Army stated.

The government will assess and analyse the situation to make additional security arrangements based on the suggestions received in the seminar.

The Army has stated that it is ready to provide election security as a primary duty of the state through coordination and cooperation with all security forces, local administration, and public representatives.

Any complaints against candidates, who have filed their nominations for the National Assembly member election to be held on January 25 can be filed today, according to the election program made public by the Election Commission.

The registration of candidates' nomination papers was completed peacefully at the offices of the election officers in all seven provincial capitals on Wednesday, shared the Commission's Joint Secretary and Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai.

According to the election program, the nomination papers and complaints, if any, shall be examined and the list of candidates will be published on January 9 and 10, the candidates will withdraw their names and publish the final list of candidates on January 11, and the election symbols will be given to the candidates on January 12.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Urban Development Kulman Ghising tendered his resignation on Wednesday.

He submitted the resignation letter to Prime Minister Sushila Karki this evening.

Accepting the letter, Prime Minister Karki congratulated and thanked Ghising for efficient leadership of three important ministries for three and a half months.

She also wished him greater success in his future political endeavors.

Minister Ghising also expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for providing him with the opportunity to work during this interim period.