KATHMANDU, May 12: The Election Commission (EC) has activated its mechanism to monitor the implementation of election code of conduct during the silent period of local level elections taking place on Friday, tomorrow.

The election code of conduct has been in force since April 8 and its implementation has been strengthened further during the silence period 48 hours before the voting day. 

The EC on April 11 sought a 24-hour clarification with CPN-UML’s Deputy General Secretary Prithvi Subba Gurung and CPN (Maoist Center) Bagmati Province Committee member Ganga Dahal for violating the code of conduct during the silence period. The two were charged with seeking votes for candidates of their favor during this period. 

The EC has its mechanism in place at various levels to check the possibility of the breach of code of conduct by political parties, election candidates and other parties.  There is a committee under the coordination of the Election Officer to monitor the implementation of code of conduct at the local level while a central code of conduct monitoring committee functions under the coordination of a commissioner who looks after EC monitoring affairs while the district code of conduct monitoring committee works under the coordination of the District Chief Election Officer.  Assistant election officer has been designated monitoring officer.

Besides these mechanisms, a total of 17 special monitoring committees have been deputed in the districts and local levels that are considered sensitive areas in view of election security.

The team shall intervene immediately if any political party or election candidate is found violating the code of conduct. It may be the display of party flags, use of vehicles, and transportation of unauthorized goods or distribution of money. It will promptly apprise the EC if it receives any such things happening in the course of monitoring. 

The EC has since the enforcement of the code of conduct sought around 100 clarifications from top leaders of various parties, chief ministers, candidates, government officials, journalists' organizations and the media.

Among those, attention has been drawn on some while reprimand given against others. According to him, monitoring and investigation continues.

The Election Commission has formed the Central Monitoring Committee under the convenorship of Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari who looks after the monitoring affairs at the EC.

Talking to RSS, Commissioner Bhandari said that the EC has so far received complaints against election candidates making hate speech, media houses and journalists violating the code of conduct, use of children for election campaign, monetary enticement to the voters and some government employees taking side of some party, among others. 

(RSS)

 
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