Pokhara, 16 February | As the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5 (Falgun 21) approaches, security personnel and civil servants in the mountainous district of Mustang are bracing for significant geographical challenges. According to the District Election Office, several polling stations are situated more than 100 kilometers away from the district headquarters, Jomsom. Particularly in Upper Mustang, polling centers in Lomanthang and Loghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipalities near the Nepal- China border remain difficult to access. District Election Officer Lokendra Gyawali noted that it takes approximately six to seven hours to reach these remote areas by vehicle, and authorities anticipate that ballot boxes may only arrive at the counting centers by midnight after the voting concludes.
For the upcoming polls, a total of 39 polling stations have been established across the five local levels of Mustang, catering to 11,328 eligible voters. In Lomanthang, which has 2,011 voters, the Samjung polling station has been merged into the Divya Secondary School in Chhoser. Similarly, Loghekar Damodarkunda has 1,542 voters across five wards, while Varagung Muktikshetra accounts for 2,885 voters. While transport is relatively easier in areas connected by the Korala Highway, reaching stations on branch roads remains a daunting task. Despite these logistical hurdles, the Election Commission is making final preparations to ensure that all polling materials and personnel reach their designated locations on time to facilitate a smooth voting process.
