The EC, which refused to permit Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala to use a copter from Chitwan to Lamjung district on Saturday, is yet to seek any clarification from the UCPN (Maoist) chairman over the code of conduct violation. [break]
The UCPN (Maoist) chairman on Wednesday arrived in Dolakha and Kavrepalanchow districts by helicopter, for which he had no permission from the EC.
Sources said Dahal has also used a helicopter for electioneering in Taplejung and Okhaldhunga in the recent days, without EC permission
According to EC Spokesperson Bir Bahadur Rai, the EC had permitted the UCPN (Maoist) use of a helicopter for the party chairman for Monday in Solukhumbu.
Similarly, it has taken permission to use helicopters for election campaigning in Humla, Mugu, Dailekh and Bajura districts for Thursday.
The Maoist party has stated that its senior leader and former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai will also use a helicopter for election campaigning.
“UCPN (Maoist) has taken permission for helicopter use only in these districts,” the EC spokesperson said adding, “I don´t know about permission on use of helicopters for other districts.”
Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav, who heads the election code of conduct committee, did not respond to repeated phone calls from Republica.
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 as these districts are remote from the point of view of transportation.
As per the EC´s decision taken last Wednesday, senior central leaders of political parties can use helicopters with EC permission for poll campaigning in more areas where roads are impassable because of natural disaster or in case of any unprecedented circumstances.
NC Central Working Committee Member Dil Bahadur Gharti, who is currently with Koirala for election campaigning, said the EC turned down their request for helicopter use in Lamjung, stating that the code of conduct allows use of helicopters in remote districts only.
Asked why the commission denied permission to NC President Koirala to use a helicopter in Lamjung, EC Spokesperson Rai said, “It is related to a policy-level decision. I can speak only about something that comes to me after the commission´s decision.”
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