Election 2079: General assembly, corner assembly can be held only 17 days before

KATHMANDU: Only 17 days (Nov 4) before the election of members of the House of Representatives and the State Assembly on Nov 20, political parties and candidates will be permitted to hold public meetings, meetings, conferences, and so on.

Until then, candidates will be able to campaign on voters’ doorsteps with up to 25 people. Based on the discussion of the political parties, the Commission has made such provisions in the Election Code of Conduct, 2079 to avoid making the election flamboyant and to promote the campaign in a dignified manner.

In order to strictly enforce the Election Code of Conduct, the Commission has instructed the Election Code of Conduct Monitoring Officer (Head of the Office of the Controller of Finance and Accounts) in all districts to do so in any private house or public building in violation of Clause (h) of Sub-section (1) of Section 13 of the Code of Election Code.

The commission has directed the office’s head to take immediate departmental action against government employees, professors, teachers, and others who violate the election code of conduct. Because candidates and political parties must monitor their spending within the commission’s limits and compliance with the code of conduct from the ground up, the election code of conduct, 2079, has been carefully studied and monitored in relation to the expenses incurred by candidates and political parties and compliance with the code of conduct. Section 42 states that it has sent a written letter to the Nepal Police and the National Investigation Department via the Ministry of Home Affairs requesting that the details be provided to the commission.

Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari, who is also the coordinator of the Central Monitoring Committee of the Election Code of Conduct, 2079, has stated that strict action will be taken if found violating the code of conduct in order to make the election clean, free, fair, and fearless. The relevant parties have been instructed to strictly implement the code of conduct, and action has been initiated based on violations and complaints.

The commission has directed that violations of the Code of Conduct be dealt with immediately by the Central and District Code of Conduct Monitoring Committees and Compliance Officers. Commissioner Bhandari stated that he has directed the Nepal Police and the National Investigation Department to mobilize their local structures to closely monitor violations of the election code of conduct and election expenses by political parties and candidates and to report back to the commission with the details.

In cases where such propaganda material is placed, written on the wall, hanging a banner, digitally displayed, leaflet is pasted in violation of the Code of Conduct and Elections (Offences and Punishment) Act, 2073, the concerned candidate shall be asked for an explanation to remove such material or correct such place within twenty-four hours and if someone does not do so, the commission has also instructed him to send a written letter to the commission with a recommendation for action asking for an explanation as to why someone should not be fined and canceling his candidacy in accordance with subsection (3) or (4) of section 23 of the Election Commission Act, 2073.

The Commission has requested an explanation for our Nepali Party candidates campaigning with stick symbols while claiming to be independent candidates. Affecting the election’s integrity and fairness by spreading the word that he is an independent candidate without clarifying his party affiliation, and since it has been discovered that there has been a deliberate violation of the existing election laws by promoting himself as an independent candidate through social media in a way that misleads even ordinary voters, a letter has been sent to submit an explanation within 24 hours.

The Commission has also requested an explanation from the candidate who violated the code of conduct during the campaign, as well as an explanation from the agency that initiates new programs, increases salary facilities, and appoints and transfers employees without the Commission’s approval.