Election code of conduct comes into force from Wednesday

Kathmandu, March 1: The Election Commission (EC) has issued the election code of conduct targeting the upcoming local level polls in accordance with Clause 22 of the Election Commission Act, 2073.

A meeting of the constitutional body held on Tuesday made the decision to this effect meant for conducting the local level polls in a free, fair, transparent and fearless manner. Accordingly, the Election Code of Conduct, 2072 and Local Level Election Code of Conduct, 2073 come into force from Wednesday.

According to the EC, the code of conduct would apply to the Government of Nepal, ministers, employees of the local bodies and levels, officials and offices of the public enterprises, government and semi-government institutions and their employees, security bodies, National Investigation Department, officials involved in elections, political parties and sister organizations of the political parties, government and private media houses, NGOs and people with public positions.

However, the code of conduct would be implemented from the day of filing of nominations in the case of the candidates.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has held preliminary discussion on the security strategy prepared in view of the local levels polls scheduled for May 14.

Secretary at the Ministry Lok Darshan Regmi said that the security strategy was prepared considering the regular directives offered by the EC and added that the security officials would fulfil their duties in a coordinative manner based on their roles in the field.

During the discussion, Chief Election Commission Dr Ayodhi Prasad Yadav said that the security mechanisms working in the local levels should be equipped with sufficient resources and the security strategy should be developed and implemented even by considering the encouraging participation of women in the local polls.

Election Commissioners Ila Sharma, Narendra Dahal, Ishwari Prasad Poudyal and Sudhir Kumar Shah and Secretary at the EC Gopinath Mainali also expressed their opinion on the occasion.

According to EC Spokesperson Surya Prasad Regmi, chiefs and representatives of all four security bodies were present at the meeting. RSS