Campaigning for presidential election prohibited beginning today midnight

KATHMANDU: The Election Commission has announced that the campaign ban period for the March 9 presidential election will begin at 12:00 p.m. tonight.

According to the commission, the campaigning ban will be in effect from midnight on March 6 until the polling stations close on March 9.

Using the authority granted by Section 22 of the Election Commission Act, 2073, the Commission has issued the Election Code of Conduct, 2079, which will be in effect from 2079 Falgun 17 to 2079 Chaitra 5 (March 1-19).

The Election Code of Conduct, 2079 states that the period of prohibition of propaganda shall be enforced from 48 hours before the polling day until the polling station is closed on the polling day in order to conduct the election in a clean, free, fair, reliable, transparent, and fear-free environment.

No discussion, interaction, meeting, conference, workshop, symposium, etc. is permitted under Section 24 of 5 of the Election Offenses and Punishment Act, 73 and Section 17 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2079.

It is also prohibited to spread propaganda in support or opposition to the candidate, solicit votes, solicit votes via SMS, Facebook, Viber, and other electronic media and social networks.

One should not make statements that violate the code of conduct, issue press releases, publish and broadcast content of victory/loss predictions, or disseminate content of victory/loss predictions through the media.

The commission has asked everyone involved to keep the election clean and dignified by adhering to the election laws and code of conduct in the election of the country’s highest and most dignified office, the presidency.