In a attempt to foil mass meeting of the alliance of seven political parties, the Home Ministry has instructed the chief district officers (CDO) to take ‘strict action’ against those campaigning for a boycott of the civic polls, slated for February 8, reports said.

The directives were particularly issued to the CDOs of the 43 districts where elections to 58 municipalities are planned.

The seven political parties are organizing a massive rally in Kathmandu on January 20.

The Himalayan Times daily quoted a senior Home Ministry official as saying that the ministry had issued directives to the CDOs concerned to take ‘maximum possible action’ against those campaigning for a boycott of the elections.

“Take maximum possible action against those campaigning for the boycott of the elections in accordance with clause 6 (a) of the Local Administration Act, 2028 BS,” the CDO’s were directed, the paper quoted the official as saying.

Under the clause, the CDO can impose a curfew in a certain area or restrict movement of the people with a view to maintaining law and order, arrest the persons suspected of breaking law and order, and even order security personnel to shoot during the curfew.

The alliance of seven agitating political parties, have vowed to actively boycott the polls and have announced a series of anti-election programmes.

Likewise, some ministers also ordered the presidents and vice-presidents of District Development Committees (DDC) of mid and far western regions to strongly retaliate against the parties, which have declared a boycott of the municipal polls.

Assistant Minister for Water Resources Binod Shah

Binod Shah (File Photo)
Giving instructions to the government nominated DDC members gathered at Bheri Technical Institute, Assistant Minister for Water Resources Binod Shah, said, “You (all) have to retaliate against the parties who have been terming the king’s February 1 move a regression and also retaliate against those who are campaigning against the people’s right to vote,” according to Kantipur daily.

Assistant Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chhakka Bahadur Lama

Chhakka Bahadur Lama (File Photo)
Assistant Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chhakka Bahadur Lama instructed the chiefs and deputy chiefs to attract the Maoists towards the government so as to make the opposition alliance weaker.

Likewise, Assistant Minister for Local Development Roshan Karki said, “All security forces (Royal Nepalese Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police) are with the government and are ready to sacrifice themselves to make the election a success. So you need not worry.”

Minister for Local Development Tanka Dhakal

Tanka Dhakal (File Photo)
Minister for Local Development Tanka Dhakal claimed that the agitating political parties were becoming a failure as they just ape Bihar and British politics.

The DDC chiefs and deputies were gathered after returning from the special convention called by the pro-government faction of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in the capital.