Elections 2022
आचारसंहिता उल्लंघनमा स्पष्टीकरणको प्रसंग उल्लेख गर्दै प्रमुख आयुक्त @DkThapaliya ले भन्नु भएको छ, ‘माकुराको जालोभित्र झिँगो पस्यो। अब तथ्य प्रमाणित गरेर निस्क्यो भने निस्क्यो होइन भने गयो।’ #NepalVotes2022 #ECN pic.twitter.com/rAGlo4f3Sk
— Election Commission Nepal (@ECNOfficial) October 21, 2022
In yet another indication that the Election Commission Nepal is getting tougher, its chief warned that his office could take legal action against candidates violating election code of conduct.
That, Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, the chief election commissioner, said “could give an earthquake-like feel”. He was speaking to journalists in Biratnagar on Friday, where he made it clear that the commission is determined to make sure that the election code of conduct is fully complied.
Nearly 18 million Nepalis will go to polls on November 20 to elect their new representatives. That will be the country's second general election after Nepal got its new constitution in September 2015.
Thapaliya’s warning came a day after the commission sought clarification from former prime minister and CPN-US leader Madhav Kumar Nepal who promised “free visa, free ticket and free training” to his potential voters in Rautahat-1. The video has gone viral on social media.
The commission has come under fire from various quaters for singling out Nepal and doing nothing to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s wife and a candidate of Nepali Congress, Arzu Rana Deuba, who was seen making pledges to voters in the far-western district of Dadeldhura recently.
But speaking in Biratnagar, the Election Commission Nepal’s Chief Commissioner said it sought clarification from Nepal and also asked the Police in Rautahat to investigate into a complaint of code violation.
‘Earthquake-like situation’
Indicating that the commission would soon begin taking legal action against violators, Thapaliya continued: “We’ve just sought clarifications from candidates who may have violated election code of conduct. And it has created so many ripples.
"Imagine the situation next week when we start taking legal action against the violators. When we do that, I’m afraid, it might create an earthquake-like situation.”
As the campaigns heat up, complaints of code violations are growing. And the commission says it is committed and prepared to hold the twin elections in a free, fair and independent manner.
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