KATHMANDU, Feb 28: The Election Commission (EC) is preparing to enforce the election code of conduct from Wednesday, barring the government from carrying out any recruitment, promotion or transfer of civil servants and from allocating budgets for new development projects. 

Election Commissioner Narendra Dahal said the EC is scheduled to organize separate meetings with  ministers and government secretaries before enforcing the code. "This will come into operation after consultations with government officials," said Dahal. 

The election body has already held discussions with the leaders of major political parties. Dahal said the parties have some reservations over the EC's proposal to fix a maximum of Rs 700,000 as the election expenditure for candidates contesting in local units. "We have proposed to limit the election expenditure at Rs 700,000 and the code will be finalized after revising the amount," said Dahal. 

Contrary to the past practice of enforcing the election code of conduct immediately after the announcement of the poll date, the EC this time has delayed the enforcement by a week.

Taking advantage of this, the home ministry has transferred dozens of senior officials. Experts are worried that this could influence elections in the long run. 

 
• election commission
 
• election code of conduct