KATHMANDU, MARCH 17

The Election Commission today issued a 78-page election code of conduct requiring political parties to make payments for expenses incurred during election campaign through the banking system.

The poll panel has set code for political parties, media, voters, poll observers, government employees, and general public.

The main points of the code of conduct are: The code prohibits the use of public property during campaigning.

It prohibits people from creating fake accounts on social networking sites in order to influence polls.

It prohibits people from making hateful speeches or misleading remarks against anybody on social networking sites.

It stipulates that political parties should designate an officer responsible for campaign expenditure.

It stipulates that parties receiving more than Rs 25,000 in donation from any person should receive it through the banking system.

Political parties should submit details of expenditure within the stipulated deadline.

Only the main campaigner can use helicopters for the purpose of election campaign.

Helicopter expense should be within the limit of expenditure sanctioned by the Election Commission.

Vehicles with foreign number plates should not be used during election campaign.

The code of conduct prohibits parties and candidates from disseminating any information for or against any party or candidate through online media, social networking site, or any other means of communication.

It stipulates that local representatives will have to resign from their post in order to contest local polls.

It also prohibits voters from propagating baseless information for or against any candidate on Viber, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Messenger, YouTube or any other mode of communication.

It prohibits parties' cadres and supporters from using logos, stickers, clothes, shirts, T-shirts, jackets, scarves, caps, badges masks, or lockets that have parties' flags while campaigning for the parties' candidates.

It stipulates that more than one party should not hold rallies and or meetings at the same venue at the same time.

People are prohibited from placing parties' flags on individual and public property without the consent of the owner.

The code prohibits teachers of those schools and educational institutions that receive partial or full funding from soliciting votes for any political party or candidate.

It orders parties not to announce any assistance package, in cash or kind, for any organisation or club.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 18, 2022, of The Himalayan Times