The constitutional body sent a letter regarding the instruction to the Interim Election Council three days after CPN-Maoist General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa launched a "nationwide campaign" against CA polls by smashing a mock ballot box in the capital. [break]
"We have instructed the government to inform the commission about any action taken, and if not then work seriously toward stopping such activities," Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety told Republica about the EC´s instruction to the government.
The EC has also cautioned CPN-Maoist not to become involved in ´unwanted´ and ´illegal´ activities that prevent the citizens from exercising franchise.
When asked why did the commission delay to respond to the CPN-Maoist move, the chief election commissioner said, "We waited to see if the government took any action against the move but the EC did not come to know about any action. So, we wrote to the government in this regard today (Sunday)."
Uprety also made it clear that the EC would have immediately responded to the move of the CPN-Maoist if the party was registered with the commission.
Most of the 33 constituent parties of the CPN-Maoist-led alliance are not registered with the EC stating that they would not participate in the forthcoming CA election to be conducted by a technocratic government.
Uprety said the commission believes that the attention of the Interim Election Council might have been drawn toward the recent activities of the CPN-Maoist as the election code of conduct is already in force.
"The government has crucial role in implementing the election code of conduct."
He maintained that no group, organization, political party or individual should get involved in any activity that can vitiate election environment.
The constitutional body has concluded that the recent activity of the CPN-Maoist may affect free and fair elections.
"The government should immediately devise ways to stop anti-election activities," said Uprety, adding, "If such activities are not stopped other groups may also come up with anti-poll activities in the coming days."
CPN-Maoist General Secretary Thapa on Thursday had launched a "nationwide campaign" against the Constituent Assembly (CA) election by smashing a mock ballot box.
In its strong-worded statement, the commission has termed the move ´indecent´. The EC has stated that the CPN-Maoist´s move will disrupt the election environment and has infringed upon the rights of people to choose their representative through elections.
The commission has also warned that it would be compelled to take action against anyone found involved in ´unwanted´ and ´illegal´ activities by ignoring the election code of conduct.
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