KATHMANDU, Feb 3: The Election Commission (EC) has asked Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidate Balendra Shah (Balen) from Jhapa-5 to provide a second clarification over an audio-visual clip showing plainclothes police allegedly assisting his campaign. The EC has given Shah three days to respond.
The EC has also sought explanations from nine other individuals for possible violations of the election code of conduct. As of Saturday, the EC had issued 21 notices and added nine more on Sunday and Monday.
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According to EC Assistant Spokesperson Kul Bahadur GC, RSP candidate Hemraj Thapa in Bajura has been asked to clarify complaints that he used insulting and threatening language against Bagmati Province Chief Minister Indrabahadur Baniya regarding the Martadi–Kolti road project, both in person at the Chief Minister’s office and on social media. Thapa has three days to respond under sections 21(c) and 25(1)(c, j) of the Election Code, 2082.
The EC has also asked candidates from the Nepali Communist Party and others about possible violations, including painting party symbols outside election offices and publishing misleading or offensive messages, and has forwarded cases to the Press Council Nepal for further action.
So far, responses have been received for 14 out of the 29 notices issued.
