Before the commencement of the election silence period for the House of Representatives Election 2026, INSEC conducted a pre-election observation in Jhapa Constituency No. 5. INSEC observed the pre-election situation on March 2, along with the Election Officer, security agencies, and the highly sensitive polling stations of Jhapa Constituency No. 5.
Jhapa Constituency No. 5 has been in the spotlight due to candidates including KP Sharma Oli, Chairperson of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), and Balen Shah, Senior Leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), contesting for the House of Representatives. For the House of Representatives Election, 19 polling stations in Jhapa Constituency No. 5 have been classified as highly sensitive polling stations.
During the election observation, Election Officer Bidur Karki informed the observer team that polling stations in border areas and those not directly connected to main highways were included in the highly sensitive list. He also stated that the Election Commission had assigned staff with election materials in a way that all polling stations could be reached within the stipulated timeframe. On the polling day, arrangements were made for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, postpartum and pregnant women, and those observing rituals, to cast their votes through separate lines.
DSP Dinesh Kumar Shrestha of the Armed Police Force, Nepal, Border Security Headquarters, informed the INSEC pre-election observation team that polling stations located in border areas are sensitive. Due to open border points, potential risks such as the use of small arms, counterfeit currency transactions, vehicles with Indian number plates, and unnecessary movement of people are monitored in coordination and cooperation with the Indian Border Security Force (BSF). He further stated that for polling stations in the border areas of Gauriganj Rural Municipality–5 in Jhapa Constituency No. 5, which are classified as highly sensitive, a security plan has been prepared in collaboration with the Nepal Army and Nepal Police.
The INSEC pre-election observation team also gathered on-site information about the highly sensitive polling station at Janata Bal Bikas Development Primary School in Gauriganj Rural Municipality–5. The team assessed the physical infrastructure of the school, including the absence of walls and other facilities, to understand potential security risks associated with the polling process.
The INSEC election observation team also gathered information from DSP Kishor Lamsal of the Damak Area Police Office regarding security challenges related to the election. The team inquired about whether voters would be able to cast their votes in a safe and fear-free manner, the behavior of candidates and political party representatives towards voters, and possible activities that could occur during the election silence period.
DSP Lamsal informed the INSEC pre-election observation team that voters in Jhapa Constituency No. 5 face no security challenges. Mobile teams of security personnel in civilian clothes have been deployed to cover every kilometer before and after the election, ensuring that no activities in violation of the election code of conduct occur even during the silence period.
The observation team also monitored highly sensitive polling stations in the border areas, sensitive polling stations within Damak Municipality, and highly sensitive polling stations in the educational areas of Chulachuli Rural Municipality, Ilam, all within Jhapa Constituency No. 5.
In the district, 285 polling sites and 815 polling centers have been designated. Among the 285 polling sites, 147 are sensitive, and 43 are highly sensitive.
In Jhapa Constituency No. 1, there are 16 polling sites and 54 polling centers; in Constituency No. 2, 16 polling sites and 55 polling centers; in Constituency No. 3, 10 polling sites and 40 polling centers; in Constituency No. 4, 25 polling sites and 67 polling centers; and in Constituency No. 5, the highest number, 10 polling sites and 70 polling centers, have been classified as highly sensitive. In Jhapa Constituency No. 5, Damak has nine, Gauradaha three, Kamal seven, and Gauriganj one polling sites classified as highly sensitive.
During the pre-election observation, violations of the election code of conduct were observed in Jhapa Constituency No. 5. For instance, the national flag was reportedly used for election campaigning.
Under the leadership of Punya Adhikari, officer at the INSEC Koshi Province Office, the INSEC observation team, Madan Rajbanshi from Gauriganj and Chiranjivi Ghimire from Damak, completed the pre-election observation in Jhapa Constituency No. 5 ahead of the start of the election silence period.
