12 Groups Monitored for Possible Election Trouble

Security agencies are keeping an eye on 12 groups that could try to disturb the upcoming House of Representatives election on Falgun 21. These groups include royalists, communists and socialists.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki, during her visit to Butwal on 9 Falgun, said that some groups are using election boycotts as a way to raise money without actually working with people. “For some groups, boycotts have become an easy way to collect funds and stay relevant” she said.

Security agencies are watching these groups closely. Durga Prasai, a leader of one of the royalist groups, is currently in police custody. His groups, Public Defence Force (PDF) and Any Time Force (ATF) are also under surveillance.

After former King Gyanendra Shah hinted that elections might bring problems, his close supporters, including the Royal Youth Force Nepal, are also being monitored. Communist groups, like CP Gajurel’s Revolutionary Communist Party and Dharmendra Bastola’s Nepal Communist Party Majority, are under watch as well. Bastola and four associates were arrested on 5 Falgun for trying to disrupt the elections.

Other groups under monitoring include the Scientific Socialist Communist Party, Nepal Communist Party (Janpaksh), a faction of the Socialist Communist Party, identity-based groups, Mongol National Organization, and even Rohingya refugees, who could be misused to create disturbances.

Security agencies have spent the last four months studying these groups, their influence, size, and ability to cause trouble. The Election Security Analysis Division, led by SSP Dayanidhi Gyawali, collects reports from local and provincial offices to plan security measures.

So far, 16 people have been arrested for trying to disturb elections, while 26 were released. Authorities say that although these groups have a history of boycotting elections, most no longer have the ability to seriously disrupt the upcoming vote.