Most of the polling stations in Dolpa are dependent on helicopters.

Kathmandu. Most of the polling centres in mountainous district Dolpa are compelled to rely on helicopters for the election to the House of Representatives scheduled for March 4.

The geographical remoteness of the district and the lack of road network have made it imperative to use helicopters to transport election materials, security personnel and election employees to 23 polling stations in Upper Dolpa.TAG_OPEN_p_11

According to District Election Officer Dil Krishna Shrestha, it takes many days to travel on foot due to lack of road access in the villages of Shey-Phoksundo, Chharka, Tangsong and Dolpobuddha.TAG_OPEN_p_10 “Settlements in Upper Dolpa are geographically very remote, the roads are closed due to frequent snowfall.

There are a total TAG_OPEN_p_9 of 24,115 voters in Dolpa, of which 12,187 are female and 11,928 are male. Of the 68 polling centres in the district, 26 have been categorised as highly sensitive, 24 as sensitive and 18 as normal. Most of the polling centres listed as geographically sensitive are located in Upper Dolpa.

A total of 355 Nepal Police, 579 Election Police, Nepal Army and Armed Police Force will be mobilized for election security.TAG_OPEN_p_8

Two temporary polling stations have also been designated in the district — one for inmates inside the jail and the other for the staff working within the district.TAG_OPEN_p_7

Likewise, the Communist Party of Nepal, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, RSSOP, UJJWAL Nepal, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Miteri Nepal Party, Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party and one independent candidate are contesting the election.TAG_OPEN_p_6 Out of the 9 candidates who have filed their candidacies, two from Miteri Nepal and Ujjyalo Nepal have already joined the NC.