Big 3 divided over use of helicopter for poll campaign

KATHMANDU, June 25: A day after the Election Commission started discussions on the newly proposed election code of conduct, the three major political parties -- UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML-- are divided over the provision on banning the use of expensive means of transportation, including helicopter, for election campaign.



While NC and CPN-UML are against the use of helicopter, UCPN (Maoist) has stated that the parties must be allowed to use any means of transportation for election campaign. [break]



“Use of such expensive means of transportation for election campaign would not be acceptable to our party under any circumstance,” CPN-UML leader and Advocate Agni Kharel told Republica. He said the UCPN (Maoist) is not in favor of a level playing field.



“Election campaigns are not meant for showing off money,” Kharel said, “There should be level playing field for all the parties.”

Similarly, NC Central Committee Member Minendra Rijal maintained that elections should not be a pretext to make an ostentatious display of money. “Helicopter must not be used for election campaign,” he added.



Rijal also expressed dissatisfaction over use of Television channels for election campaign. “Who will be accountable, if ABC airs UCPN (Maoist) related advertisements free of cost,” he questioned.



However, UCPN (Maoist) leader and Advocate Khimlal Devkota stated there should not be a ban on the use of helicopter. “How one can reach remote areas like Karnali without being allowed to use a helicopter,” he argued. He said the debate on the issue may push back the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections scheduled for November 19.



Asked if the commission would withdraw the provision, an EC official said that the commission would take a decision on the issue only after holding discussions with all the stakeholders. “The commission can accept only genuine suggestions from political parties,” the EC official said on condition of anonymity.

The commission has started discussions on the newly proposed election code of conduct from Monday in order to seek suggestions and commitments from the stakeholders before endorsing it.



The constitutional body on Tuesday held separate discussions with 74 political parties and Chairman of Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi and other ministers while it held the first meeting on the proposed code of conduct with the government secretaries and special class officers on Monday.

During the discussion with EC officials, Chairman of Samajbadi Janata Party Prem Bahadur Singh inquired whether or not the code of conduct would be applicable to the members of the High Level Political Committee.



The EC has been working to enforce code of conduct for CA election, 120 days before the poll date. A committee headed by Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav has drafted a new code of conduct in view of the upcoming CA polls.

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