Kathmandu, Nov 20 – Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Thursday chaired a National Security Council (NSC) meeting that recommended deploying the Nepal Army to ensure that the upcoming parliamentary elections are conducted in a free, fair, and fear-free environment. The recommendation will now be forwarded to the cabinet for approval.
Nepal is scheduled to hold elections for the House of Representatives on March 5 next year. The current apolitical government was formed primarily to oversee these elections and ensure their smooth conduct. According to the NSC, the recommendation aligns with Article 266(1) of the Constitution, which authorizes the Council to advise the government on the mobilization and management of the Nepal Army and on policies concerning national interest, security, and defence.
During the meeting, council members discussed a range of issues, including potential threats to national security, the implications of recent domestic and international developments, and strategies required to safeguard a peaceful electoral process. The discussions come amid growing concerns from political parties about the government’s capacity to maintain law and order during the elections.
The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) or CPN (UML), led by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, has demanded the reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives, questioning the current government’s commitment to conducting timely elections.
Tensions flared in Bara district, bordering India’s Bihar state, where clashes between local youths and UML cadres on Wednesday led authorities to impose a curfew in Simara city and surrounding areas for a second consecutive day.
Prime Minister Karki, responding to the incident, stated on social media that she had instructed all relevant agencies, including security forces, to act with restraint while maintaining full preparedness. She emphasized that the government would ensure the safe movement of political leaders and create conditions conducive to free, fair, and peaceful elections, underscoring its commitment to upholding democratic processes in the country.
