Nepal

The Election Commission has urged the candidates to hold their election campaigns - organising rallies, mass assemblies, and corner gatherings - from November 3-17.

The elections for the House of Representatives (HoR) and Province Assemblies will take place on November 20.

Clause 13 of the Election Code of Conduct-2022 issued by the Election Commission stipulates that the political parties, their sister organisations, candidates and related persons have to follow the conduct while running their election campaign, including organising rallies, mass meetings and corner meetings.

In a statement on Monday, Election Commission's spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel reminded everyone concerned that Clause 13 (Y) of the Code of Conduct stipulates that rallies, mass assemblies and corner meetings can be held and the election-related materials can be publicised in the media only 17 days ahead of the election day after the publication of the final name list of the candidates.

As per the election code of conduct, the candidate should submit to the Election Office within 15 days of the election the expenses of preparing the podium for organising the mass meeting, rally or corner meeting during the election campaign.

Similarly, the candidates can use a maximum of 10 national flags while organising any rally or conducting a mass meeting, corner meeting, or door-to-door visit to the voters during the election campaign. However, publicising any religion or faith is prohibited during electioneering.

The commission has also reminded the parties and their sister organisations, candidates, that the candidates or their families should not be subjected to any fear, threat or coercion during the campaigning, nor should the electioneering be done in a way to spread communal discord.

The commission has asked for explanations from the candidates based on the monitoring it has carried out through the District Election Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee as well as on the basis of complaints and information regarding violations of the code, and candidates have been responding to the same.

The commission has urged the political parties, candidates and the sides concerned to refrain from carrying out any activity against the code of conduct. - RSS