Kathmandu, June 26

The Election Commission today asked the government to ensure that former EC secretary Gopinath Mainali remains within the bounds of professional and moral discipline.

The EC’s reaction came days after Mainali, who was transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, told media outlets that he was transferred because he had objected to the facilities and perks given to EC office bearers.

The poll panel issued a press release today stating that Mainali, who was transferred as per  the June 22 decision of the government,  had undermined the prestige of the office bearers by levelling baseless accusations  against them. It also alleged that he  tried to mislead the general public.

“EC’s attention has been drawn to the baseless and biased remarks published in mass media and social media sites about the transfer of the secretary,” reads the EC statement.

The EC stated that Mainali undermined the neutrality, independence and dignity of the polls by levelling baseless accusations against EC office bearers and spreading rumours.

The Election Commission added that it had successfully conducted the first phase of local level polls by arranging ballot boxes and printing over 16 million ballot papers, 14 million voter identity cards and voter rolls despite the adverse situation created by unprofessional suggestions of Mainali and his repeated irresponsible and unnecessary threats.

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