Elections 2022
The Election Commission has issued seven-point directives to political parties and candidates contesting the November elections to implement the election code of conduct.
The commission has warned of action against anyone violating the code of conduct. The House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly elections will be on November 20.
The commission instructed the political parties and the candidates to abide by the code of conduct. It warned of penalties and revocation of candidacy for those not complying with the code of conduct.
In a statement on Wednesday, the commission's assistant spokesperson Rishi Ram Bhusal said the seven-point directives were issued after receiving information that various political persons were misusing the government's resources.
There are suggestions that they were leading a group of over 25 people, including security personnel, in the door-to-door election campaign, organising rallies, and corner meetings and using vehicles for the election campaign without obtaining permission.
Clause 5 of the Election Code of Conduct states that the government ministers and provincial government cannot lobby for any political parties or candidates without permission from the Election Commission in other constituencies. They can only campaign in the constituency where they are contesting.
The EC has also directed the ministers of federal and provincial governments to hold election campaigns in line with the election code of conduct. The poll body has asked them not to mobilise government resources, human resources, or government vehicles during the poll campaign and adhere to the code of conduct while campaigning in the other constituencies.
Clause 5 of the code of conduct prohibits office bearers at the local executive not to engage in any election publicity activities at the local level where they belong and not to use government resources while participating in the publicity campaign at other local units.
Clause 13 allows the political parties and candidates to organise a rally, a mass meeting, a corner meeting, or to disseminate or broadcast any sort of content meant for the election publicity via media only from 17 days before the voting day (November 3).
The commission has urged political parties and election candidates to comply with this provision.
Clause 13 also restricts parties from entertaining a gathering of over 25 people and the use of music and cultural procession during the door-to-door programme for the publicity campaign.
The EC has directed all political parties to follow this provision and federal government/government ministers not to use government resources and human force for such activities.
According to Clause 13, political parties are required to take prior permission from the commission to use vehicles for publicity programmes. Based on the same provision, political parties have been asked to use only those vehicles allowed by the commission.
In addition, Clause 13 bans the display of election publicity materials: party flags, pamphlets, banners and so on in a private or public building, public park, public street pole or any public areas. - RSS
