KATHMANDU, Jan 16: Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said the recently issued Election Code of Conduct is intended to assist political parties in conducting their electoral activities fairly.
Speaking at an interaction programme held on Friday with political parties on the implementation of the Election Code of Conduct, Bhandari said the draft had been prepared months in advance to ensure fair competition. Feedback was sought from political parties, constitutional bodies, and relevant government offices, and the final version was issued after incorporating their inputs. He added that the current code has been updated from previous versions to reflect contemporary needs.
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“The provisions in the code are designed to minimise the need to consult multiple laws. We will seek clarification from those who violate the code, and if their explanations are found unsatisfactory, punitive action will be taken,” Bhandari said. “We have also coordinated with companies such as Meta to regulate code violations on social media platforms. Action will be taken if we receive reports of any party or candidate distributing money to voters.”
Bhandari warned that promoting any party or candidate on social media using slogans such as ‘No, Not, Again’ would be considered a violation of the code and those responsible would face penalties.
He also said that some individuals had sent threatening messages after the ec barred the use of helicopters during elections, but assured that such threats would not deter them from enforcing the code.
Election Commissioner Sagun Shamsher JBR said the bank accounts of candidates and their family members would be closely monitored to ensure transparency and integrity in the electoral process.
