Kathmandu, November 8

The Election Commission today sought clarification from CPN-UML candidate Prem Bahadur Alemagar for allegedly distributing money to voters to influence votes.

The poll panel said a complaint was lodged against Alemagar, who is the UML’s Doti district parliamentary election candidate. “Why your candidacy should not be cancelled. Furnish clarification within 24-hours,” reads the statement issued by EC co-spokesperson Mukunda Sharma. The EC said that distribution of money to voters to influence election in a candidate’s favour was against the election code of conduct.

The EC could cancel candidacy if the candidate was found distributing money to voters.

Meanwhile, the EC said political parties and independent candidates had to compulsorily take prior consent from the chief returning officer and returning officer to use vehicles with foreign number plates in election campaign.

According to a press release issued by Sharma, a meeting of officials of the agencies concerned, held to control use of vehicles with foreign number plates took a decision to this effect. The meeting presided over by EC commissioner Sudhir Kumar Shah also decided to write to the concerned agencies — Ministry of Finance, Department of Customs and Department of Transport Management — to control and manage vehicles with foreign number plates.

The meeting also decided to allow political parties and candidates to use vehicles with foreign number plates in the prescribed number after taking consent from chief returning officers and returning officers of the respective district.

The EC said vehicles with foreign number plates should display the consent letter in the front of vehicles. The EC also directed the local administration to strictly regulate use of vehicles with foreign number plates.