Election campaigning begins today
• Election Commission reminds parties to comply with poll code • 71 show cause notices issued
ByPublished: 08:03 am Nov 03, 2022
KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 2
As political parties and candidates are preparing to intensify poll campaign from tomorrow when they will be allowed to carry out all kinds of poll campaign, the Election Commission reminded them of the need for strict compliance with the poll code of conduct.
Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya said at a press briefing that the prime minister and federal and provincial ministers could campaign from any part of the country but prior to that they needed to seek permission from the Election Commission.
He said the EC wanted ministers not to use government resources -- federal, provincial, or local government resources --while campaigning.
He added that the EC would monitor their activities.
CEC Thapaliya said his office had issued show cause notices to 71 individuals/institutions for allegedly violating poll code.
Earlier today, the poll panel issued show cause notice to CPN-UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai, who is contesting parliamentary elections from Taplejung constituency, and CPN-Maoist Centre leader Bina Magar, who is contesting parliamentary elections from Kanchanpur-1, for allegedly violating the poll code.
Thapaliya said the EC could issue show cause notice to parties, leaders, or candidates accused of violating the poll code of conduct. He added that the poll panel could issue a second show cause notice if the explanation of the first show cause issued to the alleged violators was found unsatisfactory.
The EC can impose fine and can even annul candidacies for violating the poll code of conduct.
Thapaliya said the EC would decide on all show cause notices by November 11.
He said candidates and parties were supposed to give details of the amount they spend on mass meetings and corner meetings by December 5.
Thapaliya said the EC would ensure that the election expenditure of parties and candidates would be audited by registered auditors, a provision that had not been strictly enforced in the past.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 3, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.