But what you may not have heard yet is each election candidate has an FM station devoted to his/her poll campaign.[break]
Bhimeshwar FM and Hamro Radio in Dolakha offer typical example of this.
Of the total five FM radio stations operating in the district, three FM radios are owned by the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) candidate from NC, CPN-UML and the UCPN (Maoist) from both constituencies of the district.
While NC candidate from Dolakha constituency number 1 Jip Chhiring Lama is among the promoters of Radio Bhimeshwar (90.8 MHz), the party´s candidate from the constituency number 2 Tara Bahadur Koirala is an advisor to the Board of Directors of the same FM radio station.
UML candidates Parbat Gurung from the constituency number 1 and Ananda Pokharel from the constituency number 2 both have their major shares in Radio Sailung (104 MHz). Likewise, UCPN (Maoist) candidate from constituency number 1 Bishal Khadka is the chairman of the board of drectors of Hamro Radio (103.4 MHz) while the party´s candidate from constituency number 2 Shankar Lama is the chairman of the Martyrs´ Family Society that runs the Hamro Radio.
These radios are openly campaigning and soliciting votes for the owners and their parties.
Two other radios -- Radio Himali (102 MHz), which is owned by Aang Dendi Sherpa of Federal Socialist Party, and Kalinchowk FM (106 MHz) -- are also campaigning for the candidates of various political parties of their liking.
What is unique about these radios, according to locals, is the radio stations owned by one party or candidate do not air any news of their rival parties. "They seem to be devoting their whole time in criticizing or refuting the news aired by the radio stations of rival candidates. Sometimes it feels that these radio stations are engaged in a verbal warfare with each other," said a local Manoj Shrestha in Charikot.
The news these radios air are also equally interesting. While Bhimeshwar Radio campaigns for NC candidates, often exaggerating the number of those taking part in their rallies or those joining the NC, Radio Sailung makes the case of UML, airing only those new reports that support the UML candidates and the UML party.
Hamro Radio is no exception to this. The radio owned by the UCPN (Maoist) leaders announces that the UCPN (Maoist) will secure two-thirds majority in the new CA elections.
Officials at the District Election Office said they have cautioned the radio stations to strictly abide by the election code of conduct after complaints it received from rival party leaders. "We had received complaints against Bhimeshwar Radio and Himali FM for broadcasting election functions and rallies live. Though the issue was settled after commitment from the radion station owner not to repeat such things in future, we have received yet another complaint against Hamro Radio," Chief Election Officer in Dolakha Thakur Prasad Sharma told Republica.
Rival party leaders have filed complaints against Hamro Radio at the District Election Office for broadcasting live the speech of Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal during the Maoist rally in Charikot on Wednesday. "We have already informed about the complaints received here to the Election Commission. They will take necessary decision," Sharma further said.
The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Dolakha chapter Vice President Rajan Siwakoti said though these radio stations used to maintain somewhat balanced approach in their news despite their political leanings, lately they have started an aggressive campaign for the candidates of their choice after the candidacies were finalized in the first week of October. "This is happening in the critical times of elections," he said.
Chief District Officer Pralhad Pokharel, who is coordinating all election-related activities in the district, said they have been holding meeting of all stakeholders including the media, political parties and non-government organizations to discuss various issues including the implementation of the election code of conduct. "Necessary instructions have been already issued to the concerned FM radio stations to respect the election code," he said.
Vice President of the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters-Nepal (ACORAB-N) Central Regional Chapter Hom Pathak said ACORAB-N has already issued a circular to all FM radio stations to strictly abide by Journalists Code of Ethics, directives of Nepal Press Council and election code of conduct enforced by Election Commission. "It is now the responsibility of the Press Council to monitor and punish the violators," he said.
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