KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 19
Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya has directed all the employees deputed to polling and ballot counting centres to discharge their duties and responsibilities honestly and impartially without being tilted towards any political party.
In a video message on the eve of the elections to the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly, Thapaliya urged all the employees to maintain the dignity of their office by demonstrating fairness, impartiality and honesty in the field. "The responsibility tasked to you as returning officers, ballot counting officers and employees is a matter of pride on your own right. Therefore, I request you to remain determined for completion of electoral works in a systematic, dignified and indisputable manner," he said.
CEC Thapaliya also appealed to the employees to fully adhere to the provisions laid down in the constitution, existing laws, code of conduct and election related directives, procedures and guidelines while carrying out the assigned duties and responsibilities.
"The employees should not work in favour of or against any political party or election candidate. You may come across undue coercion, threat and temptation directly or indirectly in the course of performing electoral duties. I request you not to fear any sort of threat or be carried away by temptation," Thapaliya suggested.
He also urged employees to ensure that the ballot papers, ballot boxes and other election logistics are not misused. "I encourage you to resist such acts in line with the law if any person or group is found to have engaged in inexpedient activities," CEC Thapaliya said. "Any dispute over the voting and ballot counting needs to be settled without any prejudice against any political party or candidate," he added.
The employees have also been told to respect and provide equal treatment to all the political parties, candidates, monitors, observers, civil society, media personnel and voters, among others. "The level of morality, ethics, integrity and conduct demonstrated by you in the field measures the fairness and independence of the elections. Therefore, you should discharge your duties and responsibilities in a manner that is recognised by the EC and other stakeholders," Thapaliya said.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 20, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
