KATHMANDU: Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav on Sunday asked political parties, candidates, mass media and other stakeholders to stop campaigning after midnight on Tuesday, as the silence period would begin 48 hours before polling day.

The EC said the silence period would start after 12:00am on Tuesday in all 128 constituencies of 45 districts, where the second phase of provincial and parliamentary elections are slated for December 7.

“Let voters use their conscience in elections and stop influencing them during the silence period,” said Yadav.

The poll panel stated that the Election Code of Conduct 2015 (third amendment) barred political parties and candidates, independent candidates, office bearers of political parties, civil society members, general voters and mediapersons from campaigning or soliciting votes during the silence period.

Displaying election symbols and election campaign materials within a radius of 300 metres of polling centres and campaigning via social network or using SMS and other messenger services, such as Facebook and whatsApp, was also against the poll code of conduct.