KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 31

The Election Commission has said candidates are allowed to organise rallies, mass assemblies and corner gatherings from November 3 to 17 in the course of electioneering.

The House of Representatives and Province Assembly election is taking place in a single phase throughout the country on November 20.

Clause 13 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2022, issued by the Election Commission has stipulated that political parties, candidates, sister organisations of political parties and related persons need to follow the conduct in the course of running their election campaign, including while organising rallies, mass meetings and corner meetings.

The Election Commission's Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel has reminded through a press release today that Clause 13 (Y) of the Code of Conduct stipulates that rallies, mass assemblies and corner meetings could be held and election-related materials could be publicised in the media only 17 days ahead of the voting day after the publication of the final name list of candidates.

As per the election code of conduct, the candidate should himself/herself or through one's representative submit to the Election Office within 15 days of the election the expenses of preparing the podium for organising the mass meeting, rally or corner meeting, during the election campaign.

Similarly, the candidates can use a maximum of 10 national flags while organising any type of rally or conducting mass meeting and corner meeting or door-todoor visit to the voters in the course of campaigning for the election. Likewise, publicising any religion or faith is prohibited in the course of electioneering.

The Election Commission has also reminded candidates, parties and sister organisations of the parties and related people that the candidates or his/her families should not be subjected to any kind of fear, threat or coercion during campaigning nor should the electioneering be done in a way to spread communal discord.

The Election Commission has been asking for explanation from candidates on the basis of the monitoring carried out by it and the District Election Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee and on the basis of complaints and information regarding the violation of the code. The candidates have been responding to the same.

The EC has urged political parties, candidates and the sides concerned to refrain from carrying out any activities against the code of conduct.

A version of this article appears in the print on November 1, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.