Army deployed for Nepal poll security

KATHMANDU (TIP): The Nepal Army was deployed in the country on October 20 to ensure that the November 19 polls happen smoothly. According to army spokesman Brigadier General Jagdish Chandra Pokhrel, the army has been deployed as per the constitutional directive and will work together with other security forces. Two thirds of the 95,000 strong army will be deployed in 240 constituencies in 75 districts. The breakaway Maoist faction said that it will urge the people to boycott the elections. In pamphlets stuck in Kathmandu it said that since no party will win a majority, it will be allow India to interfere. The pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party of Nepal is fighting the election on a nationalistic platform. It has called for referendum on status of monarchy and wants Nepal to again be a Hindu country. On the issue of federalism which was the sticking point the last time round, the Maoists have stuck to its ethnicity based provinces and an executive president directly elected by the people. The Nepali Congress wants a parliamentary system. Meanwhile the Communist Party of Nepal ( UML) has given a party ticket to Najma Khatun, the widow of Mohammed Alam who died of gunshot wounds earlier this month. Alam had been shot by men on a motorcycle with Indian number plates in southern Nepal.

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