Locals have agreed to hold the polling station at the health post in Purba Khola Rural Municipality-6, Heklang, instead of having the polling station at the health post in the upcoming elections.

The local residents reached an agreement after an all-party discussion including the security committee, election officer, rural municipality chairperson, ward chairperson, health department chief, local political party chiefs and representatives. They had demanded that the polling station at the health post be shifted to a nearby child welfare primary school in the upcoming elections. 

When the polling officer and security personnel reached the center on Monday, they objected to the placement of voting materials and obstructed them. After a long discussion, it was agreed to keep the polling station at the health post this time, said Assistant Chief District Officer Rishiram Subedi. 

‘The rural municipality is also ready to provide necessary support to keep the center in the school,’ he said. ‘The local residents agreed after being told that it would not be kept at the health post in the coming days and that it would be problematic to move it elsewhere this time from a security perspective.’ Rural municipality chair Nun Bahadur Thapa said that they are always ready to provide necessary support. 

Even though the locals had earlier applied to the election office to remove the polling station and center from the health post, it had not been heard. Superintendent of Police Dipendra Tharu Panjiyar said that the polling station will be operated without any disruption to the birthing center and emergency services at the health post. He said that it will be operated in a way that does not affect health services when used as a polling station.