MYAGDI, Oct 31: It has been found that CPN-UML cadres distributed rice to voters with plans to influence them.

Local UML leaders have been found distributing rice to influence the voters in the House of Representatives and provincial assemblies’ member elections to be held on November 20. The election team of the Left-Democratic Alliance has said that rice was distributed to the poor and Dalit communities in Malika Rural Municipality-3, Igre, Lamkhoria and Shyamgara.

Locals said that the CPN-UML Provincial Assembly Region B Election Steering Committee had sent rice to their homes. Out of 18 sacks of Kamal brand US premium rice weighing 25 kg each, 10 sacks were distributed to the locals and eight sacks of rice were returned on Saturday.

According to locals, a team including CPN-UML leader Kharmaya Bitalu and people's representative of Malika Rural Municipality, who reached Igre before Tihar, sent rice in the bolero car of a Darbang businessman after meeting the voters.

District Election Officer Bhim Prasad Ghimire said that when the code of conduct has been implemented, no act of greed or financial inducement can be done. “We have not received any complaints. Any misuse of the code of conduct is being monitored," he said.

On the other hand, Tejnath Paudel, Assistant Election Officer, said that he had no information about the complaint as he was out of the district. In Myagdi, there are complaints that cadres of various political parties try to influence voters by distributing rice, beer, salt and oil as well as by assuring them of the budget from the municipality. 

 
• CPN-UML
 
• rice
 
• election
 
• Myagdi