The Election Commission (EC) has urged the government to ensure foolproof security for candidates and voters to peacefully and successfully hold the upcoming parliamentary and provincial assembly elections. With bomb attacks targeting poll candidates continuing, the election body has concluded that the government has failed to make proper security arrangements for the polls.

"Since we are not mandated to deploy the security agencies or prepare a poll security plan, it's up to the government. The recent attacks show that the security arrangement is not up to the peoples' expectation," said Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav.

According to My Republica, CEC Yadav ruled out the possibility of deferring or postponing the elections even if the targeted attacks continue. "We are feeling a sense of security threats but the elections will take place as scheduled. We are all prepared for this," he said.

Asked whether he had discussed the issue with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who also oversees the Ministry of Home Affairs, the agency responsible for coordinating the poll security, CEC Yadav said the PM was not available in Kathmandu. "He is not in Kathmandu. I could not get in touch with him," said Yadav.

The EC is conducting the first round of elections in 32 districts of the country on November 26 while the second round of polls is scheduled for December 7 in the rest of the districts.