Phase I poll campaigning ends on Thursday night

KATHMANDU: The Election Commission stated today that the silence period would start after 12:00am tomorrow in all the 37 constituencies of 32 districts, where the first phase of provincial and parliamentary elections are slated for November 26.

The poll panel said Election Code of Conduct (third amendment) barred political parties and candidates, independent candidates, office bearers of political parties, civil society members, general voters and media from continuing poll campaign or soliciting votes during the silence period.

It also bars them from displaying election symbols and election campaign materials within a radius of 300 metres of polling centres or carrying out poll campaign via social media and messenger services, such as SMS, Facebook, viber, whatsapp etc.

The silence period begins across the country 48 hours before polling day.

Issuing a press release today, Election Commission Spokesperson Navaraj Dhakal also cautioned mass media against publishing or broadcasting poll-related stuff concerning the 45 districts that go to polls on December 7, as that could influence voters of the districts where elections would be held in the first phase.

The silence period for the second phase of polls will begin at midnight of December 5.

(UPDATED)

Silence period to start from Thursday mid-night

KATHMANDU: The silence period for the first phase of local level election scheduled for November 26 in 32 districts is starting from Thursday mid-night, the Election Commission said.

The EC spokesperson Nabaraj Dhakal said the political parties, candidates, representatives of the political parties, independent candidates, civil society, voters and the media are not allowed to indulge in any of the polls related campaign after the beginning of the silence period.

However, the publicity campaigns would continue in 45 districts for the second phase of elections scheduled for December 7.

Spokesperson Dhakal said the media houses were also urged not to disseminate any of the contents violating the election code of conducts as such contents could influence the voters.

Likewise, use of social networking sites and electronic media for publicity campaign should be considered violation of election code of conducts, it is said.

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