When the date was set last Bhadra, there was uncertainty about whether the election would be held on time or not. Many doubts were expressed. But gradually the atmosphere of the election was building, and parties that had doubts about the election also joined the election. A silence period began on Monday night before the voting on Thursday. Polling officers and security personnel have reached polling stations across the country to ensure the election is held. Kantipur's Durga Dulal and Jaisingh Mahara spoke to Ram Prasad Bhandari, who led the Election Commission as the acting chief during this journey from the confusion of the election to excitement: There was a lot of doubt about the election being held at some point. Having overcome that, we have come to the silence period before the election. Is there any preparation work left for the election on the part of the Commission or has it been completed? There is no preparation left for the election, all preparations have been completed. Our polling officers have already reached the respective polling stations with ballot boxes and ballot papers. The work to be done at the polling station and polling center has already begun. Now, by Wednesday evening, you will complete the work including how to place all the ballot boxes. The voting will start at 7 am on the 21st and end at 5 pm. Since all the preparations are complete, I urge everyone to participate in the election process with confidence. There are complaints that the Commission did not strictly implement the code of conduct, right? No. The Commission is even rejecting the candidature. Did the candidate do that while being disqualified? Even while being disqualified. However, this is also a matter that comes along with strictly implementing the code of conduct. The Commission could have remained silent on this. But once any issue has entered the Commission's hands, there should be no delay even for a minute in deciding. After all, it is the Commission's job to decide and provide a solution, and we are providing a solution. How has the security arrangement been arranged? How have the security mechanisms been mobilized? Initially, we identified a lot of challenges related to security. The Commission has also viewed this issue very sensitively. We have coordinated very well with the government. I myself have also visited many districts. But there is no room for anyone to doubt security anywhere. The government has made security preparations.

All four security agencies have been mobilized in a way that is appropriate to mobilize according to the need. The Nepal Police is located in the inner circle. The Armed Police Force is located in the outer circle. Outside that, 300 meters away, there are officers from the Nepal Army and the National Investigation Department.

No one should have any doubts about security now. The government has ensured security arrangements. All security personnel have been deployed at polling stations and polling centers. Election police have also been recruited and mobilized in places where security personnel are less.

The Election Commission itself has classified some election centers as sensitive. What is the security arrangement there?

Normal and peaceful elections are also held in centers that are considered high-risk and sensitive in terms of elections. Some centers that we have turned a blind eye to as normal security conditions are also at high risk. While analyzing past elections, we have identified some risks, high risks, and normal ones. We have given special priority to high risks. 

Since all preparations have been completed, I urge everyone to participate in the election process with confidence .

Regarding the election process, I will give the example of the 2079 election. In the local level elections, the election was conducted very normally in the places that were considered very high risk. The places that were considered normal remained at very high risk. There was no identification there. In the places that were identified as high risk in the local level elections, during the elections to the House of Representatives and the Provincial Assembly held on 4 Mangsir in the same year, we made a physical presence in the same place and explained a lot, saying, 'Would you do the evil deed of disrupting the election in a place where intelligent people like you live?' That is why there was no awkward situation anywhere in the 4 Mangsir election, except for one or two places.

We also have the experience of the elections at that time, I have it. And by analyzing it accordingly, the heads of the security agencies have also mobilized security personnel accordingly. Therefore, there is insecurity, and voters are not thinking about whether they will be able to go to the polling station and vote. Security has been guaranteed. Voters can comfortably line up and vote from 7 am. We have made arrangements to vote in a very convenient manner. There is no need to wait in very long and hour-long lines. There are less than a thousand voters in a polling station. Voting time is from 7 am to 5 pm. Even if you cannot enter the polling station and vote by 5 pm, voters can vote until 7 pm.

Some have announced a boycott of the election. Some have also threatened to disrupt it. There are also reports of suspicious items being found and 'disposed' by the security agencies. What is the Commission's view on this matter?

Security personnel are watching such aspects. Security personnel are deployed across the country. The security personnel have identified the areas where elements that disrupt security are active. So this is no longer a topic of discussion. I think the security personnel have been mobilized so efficiently, but we could have been weaker, but the security personnel have been active.

The weather in the Himalayan districts was also seen as a challenge. What is the projection?

Given the topography of the country, 21 Falgun meant that voting would not be possible due to cold, snow, and difficulties in the Himalayan region. Therefore, two months ago, we had asked the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology to analyze the weather on 21 Falgun and submit a report. They have given a report that there will be no rain anywhere on that day and that the weather will be completely clear.

How was the support of the party and the government from you when we came from a difficult situation to the election? Now, the roads to some Himalayan polling stations and polling stations were closed. Now, our security personnel have opened the roads and reached the relevant places. Earlier today (Tuesday afternoon), we received a report that all the polling officers have safely reached their respective places and participated in the process. So, the weather will not have much impact.

Political parties need elections. The current government was formed after the Gen-G rebellion. The government had two 'mandates'. One, to support the Election Commission to hold the election on the specified date, i.e. on 21 Falgun. Second, to ensure good governance. Since the government's Arjuna vision was to hold the election, it saw nothing but the election, and the Election Commission could not see anything. We moved forward with very good coordination between the government and the Election Commission. We are almost in the final stage of the process of conducting the election.

What was the role of political parties in creating an environment for the election?

Political parties are the ones who will compete in the election. They have registered their parties with the Election Commission. A political party can never think of withdrawing from the election or staying away from the process. 

There should be no delay in deciding any issue even for a minute after it has entered the commission. Whatever it is, it is the commission's job to decide and provide a solution and we are providing a solution.

Naturally, various political agendas will be created for the purpose of winning, but they easily participate in the election process. Moreover, now the members of the House of Representatives elected for five years have already been dismissed and have to go for re-election. That is why it must have felt a little difficult at first. But since there is no alternative to the election, all parties are now participating in the election process, accepting this.

There is a period of silence now. I call this time zero time or static time. At this time, the campaigning of parties and candidates has also stopped. Now, it is time to analyze how many voters have trusted me through the campaigning I have done, how many votes I will get, whether I will be elected or defeated. This is the time to brainstorm and make plans beyond that.

It is to make an action plan about the promises I have made to the people and the ways to fulfill them. The context of the election process is a time to refrain from any discussion or dialogue, to remove any election material you have posted on social media, and to participate in the election process in a clean, free, and joyful manner.

You called the silence period ‘zero time’. This time has become ‘economic time’, but there is also an allegation that the Election Commission has not been strict, right?

The Election Commission has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards economic manipulation. As you have heard, we are also hearing about sporadic incidents. We have also instructed the District Election Offices to take strict action on such issues. The Commission does not accept economic manipulation and election disruption. The Commission is very aware of these issues. The leaders of political parties are also aware. Therefore, perhaps there will be no anti-election activities.

The materials posted on social media should also be removed during the silence period. But the materials posted in a competitive manner before 12 noon on Monday are still indiscriminate, right?

How do you bring them under the scope of action? All the materials collected during the election period and made public before the silence period are still visible, right? The candidates had the right to campaign until 12 midnight on Monday. Then the silence period began, the commission has implemented the code of conduct. Yesterday, there was no suggestion that those materials should be removed. There was no mindset that they should be removed after sharing once. But we have already said it yesterday. All the materials that candidates and parties have shared on social media before should be removed, otherwise that too will be considered a violation of the code of conduct. We believe that the candidates will remove such materials. If they do not remove them by tomorrow (Wednesday), we will bring them under the scope of action.

I said it above. We have already asked the Election Commission to publicly remove all materials that are against the code of conduct. If there are materials that were published and broadcast before the silence period began, they should not be kept anymore, we have requested them to remove them. If you leave them as they are, it will be considered a violation of the code of conduct during the silence period. Therefore, you will be subject to action. If it becomes a matter of action, it will definitely not be good for the candidate. As a candidate, it will be a situation where he will have to go to his constituency and polling stations or come to the Election Commission to give an explanation. Therefore, all the candidates will deactivate all the materials they have communicated before they reach the Commission's access or information.

Does the Commission take action based on a complaint filed by someone? Or, are your own mechanisms active?

There is a cyber team monitoring the Commission. And there is a 'Joint Operations Team'. Similarly, we have also collaborated with social media. We are immediately monitoring and removing such materials.

How many domestic and foreign observers are coming to observe the election?

There are two types of observers. Some international observers come by applying. Some are called by the Commission itself after requesting. They come and observe. 

No one should have any doubts about security now . The government has ensured security arrangements .

Next, we invite the election commissions of various countries, diplomatic missions, as well as countries with which the Election Commission has friendly relations. Similarly, we have invited those who have worked on the election process and have a high profile internationally. This seems to reach four dozen.

Similarly, the Chief Election Commissioners and Commissioners of various countries also come. They observe. We ask them, ‘How did you feel?’ We have organized a dialogue with the diplomatic missions and those who came to observe on Tuesday evening. During that, we inform them about the preparations and limitations of the Commission. Similarly, we also brief them on what issues should be followed while observing the election. They also share their experiences with us. Similarly, they go to the places where they have been granted permission and monitor and observe. After returning from there, they submit their report. And, we bid farewell.

How many observers have come with the Election Commissioner’s team?

I cannot say exactly how many commissioners from diplomatic missions and the Election Commission are there now. But there are more than a dozen.

Do they observe only in Kathmandu or have they also taken permission from other districts?

Most foreign observers have taken permission only for Kathmandu. Some have taken permission from outside the valley. Those who have taken permission can also go outside the valley, while those who have not taken permission can go to the Kathmandu valley and nearby districts. Some have said they will go to Dang, Surkhet, and some to Jhapa and Dhankuta. We have accepted their request and granted permission. But foreign observers, who have come from diplomatic missions, follow the rules well. Some others have a history of trying to go beyond the legal line. Since we also have to control such people, the Commission also monitors the monitoring by considering all aspects.

The Election Commission has not yet envisaged re-elections. The election will be held in one phase and there will be no environment where repeated elections will be required in any area. The election will be held at once and on the same day. Has the Commission thought about the situation where re-elections may be necessary in any area for some reason? What are the preparations for the vote counting?

After the voting is completed on the 21st, the ballot boxes will be collected first. After the collection of the ballot boxes, the vote counting process will begin. We will start the vote counting after a joint meeting with the District Election Office and local political parties. The Election Commission has made preparations to make the results of all the areas public within 24 hours of the start of the vote counting.

The Election Commission has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards financial manipulation, all the content that candidates and parties have shared on social media before must be removed, otherwise it will also be considered a violation of the code of conduct.

Is it possible to get the vote results in 24 hours?

After the ballot boxes are collected, the vote counting will begin. In this type of vote counting, only the direct vote results can be made public within 24 hours. We have made full preparations for this. We are preparing to make the ‘first come, first served’ i.e. direct vote results public first. And then we start counting the votes for proportional representation. As far as possible, the votes for proportional representation will be counted simultaneously, if not possible, separately.

Questions always arise about the security of ballot papers and ballot boxes. What arrangements has the Commission made for this?

There is no need to worry about the security arrangements. 

I urge you to participate in the vote with confidence. We have found that voters and parties are now aware. The Commission is confident that security personnel are now vigilant and providing security everywhere. We have no doubt about the security of the election.

This is an election that is being held in a situation that no one expected. Where do you think this will lead the future of the country?

The time for campaigning is over. Now we must calm down and make this election a success. Now we must trust and accept the votes cast by the voters. The more trust and confidence the parties and candidates have been able to instill in the people during this period, the more votes and seats they will get. The amount of support and role they have played for the elections from the beginning is beyond evaluation. The Election Commission has received full support since the President announced the elections for 21 Falgun. Political parties and the media have also provided great support in this. The last way to bring a country that is disorganized, out of discipline and out of rhythm back to normal is elections. What would have happened if elections had not been announced in the country after the uprisings of 23 and 24 Bhadra? The situation could have been beyond imagination. Now the new generation has also participated in the election. The old generation is also together. The parties have also participated in the elections enthusiastically. There is now a period of silence.

You were given the responsibility of conducting the elections as the acting one. The elections are also being conducted. How have you approached your own work and role?

There is no need to discuss this issue now. The Election Commission is not a person, but an institution. There is no point in having or not having a position as an acting one. You have to show it by doing the work. The acting one does not stop you from doing the work. I have also shown results by working with this in mind.

There is a lot of investment in voter education. But, there is no improvement. Why?