According to multiple sources, the commission has been studying the ground situation following demands from some political parties to allow candidates the use of helicopters in a few more districts for election campaigning purposes. [break]
The election code of conduct has allowed helicopters to be used for poll campaigning in Solukhumbhu, Manang, Mustang, Dolpa, Humla, Jumla, Mugu, Kalikot, Bajhang, Bajura and Jajarkot districts as these districts are remote from the point of view of transportation.
“We have received demands to allow candidates to use helicopters for election campaigning in a few more districts,” Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety told Republica on Monday, “They [political parties and candidates] have stated that bailey bridges are damaged and roads are impassable at some places and it will take several days for the candidates to visit remote areas.”
According to EC officials, the major political parties have also argued that candidates need to visit several districts during the election campaigning and this will not be possible if they are allowed to use helicopters in just 11 of the districts.
The chief election commissioner said the commission is yet to take a decision over the matter. “It is also related to the election code of conduct,” added Uprety.
Talking to Republica, Election Commissioner Ila Sharma said the EC does not want to create hurdles in election campaigning as the commission is there to facilitate things.
“After ascertaining the ground situation the EC can allow candidates to use helicopters for election campaigning in a few more districts,” maintained Sharma.
Hinting that the commission is positive toward the demand of the political parties and candidates regarding helicopter use for election campaigning in a few more districts, Uprety said it is necessary for candidates to visit the election constituencies in order to create a conducive environment for the polls.
“Former prime ministers, among other top leaders of political parties, will be going to the election constituencies. They should be provided security and that will be difficult to do on the longer routes,” said the chief election commissioner.
Asked which parties have demanded that the EC allow candidates to use helicopters for election campaigning, Uprety said they have received a general demand.
Though the commission had earlier proposed to ban the use of expensive means of transport, including helicopters, for poll campaigning, it later allowed the use of helicopters in 11 remote districts after the UCPN (Maoist) demanded strongly that helicopter use be allowed.
The three major political parties --UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML--were sharply divided over the provision banning the use of expensive means of transport, including helicopters.
While Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML were against the use of helicopters, UCPN (Maoist) had stated that the parties must be allowed to use any means of transport for their election campaigning.
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