Raxaul, East Champaran: The general elections in neighboring Nepal on Thursday saw a peaceful voting process in Indo-Nepal border areas. The border closure from March 3 had a significant impact on cross-border trade and movement, but voters from far-flung areas in India and Nepal were able to exercise their franchise due to the seven-day leave on account of Holi and the election.
Long queues were seen outside polling booths in Nepal's interior regions, reflecting a steady voter turnout amid tight security arrangements. Officials in Nepal and India described the election as peaceful along the border areas.
The election has turned into a multi-cornered battle involving major national players, including the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) led by rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) headed by former prime minister K P Sharma Oli, and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) led by former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Traders and businessmen in Raxaul, a border town in Bihar's East Champaran district, heaved a sigh of relief at the thought of resuming cross-border movement. The border closure had a significant impact on their business, with footfall from Nepal coming to a halt due to the closure on March 3 itself.
