Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Kumar Karki, has stated that the government has failed to create an environment in which voters can cast their votes without fear.
Speaking at an interaction program on “Elections and Participation for the Stability of Democracy”, organized by the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) and the Nepal Human Rights Organization in Itahari, Sunsari, on January 17, 2026, Chief Minister Karki said that the government has not been able to ensure a safe and fear-free environment for voters to exercise their voting rights. He stated that because political parties and voters alike have not been provided with a sense of security to participate confidently in the electoral process, there is widespread uncertainty about whether elections will be held on the scheduled date. He emphasized that it is essential to create an environment where voters can cast their ballots freely and without fear.
Chief Minister Karki, who was also the chief guest of the program, stated that although everyone wishes for elections to be held in a fear-free and fair environment, the government’s intention behind conducting the elections has become questionable due to the current government’s decision to withdraw cases related to organized crime, among others. He said that when the government has been unable to rearrest prisoners who escaped from custody and recover weapons looted from security agencies, it is not possible to expect elections to be held in a fear-free manner.
At the interaction program, INSEC Chairperson Bijay Raj Gautam stated that INSEC, which has become synonymous with Nepal’s human rights movement, will observe the election of members of the House of Representatives, as it has done in previous elections. He said that following the movements of Bhadau 23 and 24, the foundations of political awareness have become visible in every sector, and therefore, INSEC will also monitor whether the elections are conducted in a clean and impartial environment.
At the interaction program, Koshi Province DIG Binod Ghimire stated that, from a security perspective, a more reliable environment than in previous elections appears likely in the coming days. He said that polling stations across various electoral constituencies in Koshi Province have been classified and security strategies have been implemented accordingly, ensuring that the elections will be conducted in a fear-free environment.
At the interaction program, Professor Krishna Prasad Pokharel stated that the movements of September 8 and 9, 2025, occurred because elected representatives, sent to power by the people through their votes, have engaged only in power struggles and the distribution of positions and benefits, while failing to ensure any kind of service or facilities for the public. He said that elections alone do not ensure the stability of democracy; rather, democracy becomes sustainable only when elected representatives address the problems of the people.
At the interaction program, former INSEC Chairperson Subodh Raj Pyakurel stated that various difficult situations have emerged in the country because Nepal’s political parties have not been honest with the people. He said that human rights issues continue to be linked with every election in Nepal because political parties and their representatives have failed to properly understand the importance of human rights concerns and the significance of the international commitments and ratifications made by the Government of Nepal for the establishment of human rights.
At the interaction program, representing civil society, Jagadish Prasad Oli stated that it is necessary to include lessons on how to vote and why to vote in school-level curricula.
Senior journalist Yagya Sharma said that INSEC and the Nepal Human Rights Organization have become almost synonymous with human rights issues in Nepal, and that civil society needs to reassure voters in order to ensure elections are conducted in a fear-free and impartial manner.
Intellectual Dinesh Shrestha stated that the legitimacy of the upcoming elections will depend on how honestly political parties participate in the electoral process. He said that since elections are inevitable, major political parties must participate honestly in the upcoming elections, at least for the sake of the people.
At the program, SOS Village Itahari Director D.C. Chaudhary stated that children’s rights have been affected by political parties themselves due to their involvement of children in election campaign activities. He emphasized that human rights defenders need to strongly raise their voices against the use of children in elections.
Founder Chairperson of the Nepal Human Rights Organization, Anand Acharya, stated that the younger generation was compelled to launch the movement on September 8, 2025, because political party representatives failed to create foundations for development in the country in line with the sentiments of the people.
At the interaction program, Mayor of Phidim Municipality, Panchthar, Mitradev Kafle stated that elections are the foundation of democracy and that only clean elections can ensure the stability of democracy.
Central Chairperson of the Nepal Human Rights Organization, Indra Prasad Aryal, said that although election observation may sound like a simple task, it holds great importance in ensuring clean and impartial elections.
The interaction program was attended by human rights defenders, journalists, activists, and others from various districts of Koshi Province. Discussions at the program focused on issues such as the role of major political parties in the upcoming elections, the use of social media, election security, and voter education.