Locals concerned as parties flout poll code of conduct in Panchthar

Phidim, June 2

Stakeholders have expressed concern about violation of election code by political parties and their candidates in Panchthar.

Chief Returning Officer of Panchthar, Rajendra KumarĀ  Shrestha, said political parties should abide by the poll code of conduct to ensure free and fair elections.

Other speakers at the programme organised by District Election Office, Panchthar, locals complained that the NC, the CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist Centre and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party had flouted the election code.

The speakers said party cadres and leaders had worn T-shirts and caps with party symbols, used vehicles exceeding the limit and pasted large-sized pamphlets, among others.

Participants said organisations and journos involved in monitoring the violation of poll code of conduct had not played a fair role. They claimed that ineffective voter education had led to confusion among the people. The programme saw participation of party chiefs, election officers, security chiefs, journos and various representatives.Candidates from different parties, however, claimed that they had not distributed t-shirts and caps with party symbols.