Rajbiraj, September 2

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Bijay Kumar Gachhadar today said implementation of the election code of conduct three months prior to parliamentary and provincial polls had affected government activities and urged the Election Commission to revise its decision to implement the poll code early.

Speaking at a press meet organised by the Saptari chapter of Federation of Nepali Journalists in Rajbiraj, Gachhadar held that this was the first time in Nepal election history that any poll code had been implemented so early.

“Since the election code of conduct is affecting daily affairs of the government, EC has to revise the decision,” he added.

Gachhadar, who is also chairman of Nepal Democratic Forum, said he would raise the issue of the poll panel enforcing the election code of conduct even for provincial and parliamentary polls slated for December 7, at the next Cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday.

He asked party leaders, candidates and cadres to give top priority to development agenda during the party’s campaigning for the third phase of civic polls.

Gachhadar informed that his party was open and ready to forge electoral alliance with any other political party for the September 18 local level elections. He also expressed his dissatisfaction over the Constituency Delineation Commission’s report, saying the commission did not consult them while determining electoral constituencies.