Uttarakhand to Close India-Nepal Border for Lok Sabha Elections

The state’s Chief Electoral Officer, BVR Purushottam, provided details on the arrangements ahead of the April 19 Lok Sabha seat elections in Uttarakhand. He stated that the border between India and Nepal will be blocked starting today and that cross-border travel will be prohibited until April 19.

BVR Purushottam said in a conversation with ANI, “On April 19, the first round of voting will take place in 21 states. In Uttarakhand also, the election is in the first phase. Indo-Nepal border will be sealed today and cross-border movement of people will be closed till 6:00 pm on April 19.”

He further added, “This time, a good thing is that along with UP, seven more bordering districts are witnessing elections together with Uttarakhand… This time, we have got around 60 companies of paramilitary forces for elections. And we believe that we will conduct peaceful elections.”

The official also mentioned instructing political parties and candidates to halt their campaigning two days prior to the voting, ensuring strict adherence to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

Purushottam also provided an update on the deployment of election officers to polling booths, stating that a team for 12 booths, 11 in Uttarkashi and one in Pithoragarh, is leaving today due to their locations. He mentioned that tomorrow, 700 teams will depart for their respective areas, and on the final day before the elections, April 18, around 11,000 election officers will head to their designated regions.

Regarding the issue of drug and alcohol recovery before the elections, the official acknowledged the concern and shared details about the authority’s seizures. “This time, before three to four days of the election, we have seized drugs and other narcotic substances worth Rs 17 crore.”

Uttarakhand’s Chief Electoral Officer encouraged citizens to participate in voting and mentioned that authorities have engaged 63 lakh people in a voting pledge initiative. Purushottam highlighted the historically low voter turnout in Uttarakhand, stating that during previous elections, the state had a 62% turnout compared to the national average of 67%. He emphasized the efforts made this time to mobilize voters, with 63 lakh people committing to vote. The Lok Sabha elections for all five seats in Uttarakhand are set to occur in a single phase on April 19.