Far west province: 481 polling stations classified as highly sensitive ahead of elections

Mahendranagar: In preparation for the upcoming House of Representatives elections on Falgun 21, 481 polling stations in the Far West Province have been classified as highly sensitive, according to the Sudurpaschim Province Police Office. The polling stations under the province’s 16 constituencies have been categorized as normal, sensitive, and highly sensitive from a security perspective.

The Far West Province, comprising nine districts, has 16 constituencies across Terai and hill regions. The Terai region includes eight constituencies—five in Kailali and three in Kanchanpur—while the remaining eight constituencies are spread across seven hill districts. Achham has two constituencies, with the other six hill districts having one constituency each, the Provincial Police Office, Dhangadhi, reported.

Out of 1,176 polling stations across the province, 300 are classified as normal, 395 as sensitive, and 481 as highly sensitive. The province has a total of 2,199 polling stations.

Kailali district has the highest number of highly sensitive polling stations in the province, with 108 identified as such, according to Superintendent of Police Narendra Chand at the District Police Office, Kailali. Security arrangements will be strengthened at these locations.

In Kanchanpur, 66 out of 132 polling stations have been classified as highly sensitive, while in Bajura, a hilly district, 62 out of 77 polling stations are considered highly sensitive.

The Provincial Police Office stated that a security strategy targeting the elections will be implemented, with Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Election Security Force, and Nepal Army mobilized for the outer perimeter. Over 7,000 Nepal Police personnel are expected to be deployed across the Far West Province.

A total of 206 candidates, including independents and political party representatives, are contesting in the 16 House of Representatives constituencies of the province.