Election 46 Days Away: Confidence That All Sides Will Adhere to the Code of Conduct

Kathmandu – The Election Commission has implemented the Election Code of Conduct and established offices of election officers in preparation for the upcoming elections.

In connection with enforcing the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, the Commission organized a discussion with political parties registered to participate in the House of Representatives Election–2082. 

The discussion was held in the presence of Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari, Honorable Election Commissioners Dr. Janaki Kumari Tula Dhar and Sagun Shamsher Jabara, and Commission Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut.

During the program, the participating political parties expressed their commitment to ensuring that the upcoming election is conducted in a clean, free, fair, credible, and fear-free environment. 

They stated that they would honestly comply with the Constitution of Nepal, the Election Commission Act, 2073, the Political Parties Act, 2073, the Election (Offenses and Punishment) Act, 2073, the House of Representatives Member Election Act, 2074, the National Assembly Member Election Act, 2075, and the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, among other election-related laws.

Similarly, the political parties expressed their commitment to attend whenever called by the Commission, the Election Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee and sub-committees, election officers, and polling officers. 

The Commission informed that suggestions were received emphasizing the need for effective monitoring during the election, as well as increased vigilance by the Commission to control and regulate misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech spread through social media.

Addressing questions and concerns raised by representatives of political parties regarding the implementation of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Bhandari urged all party representatives not to engage in the politics of prohibition and to participate in the election by adhering to the law.

Election Commissioner Sagun Shamsher Jabara, who is also the coordinator of the Central Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee, informed that the Commission would use social media monitoring tools to regulate social media activities. 

As political parties registered to participate in the upcoming election expressed their commitment to implementing existing election laws and the Election Code of Conduct, the Commission stated that it is confident the Code of Conduct will be implemented honestly and successfully through cooperation with all parties.

Meanwhile, Commission Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai informed that, as part of preparations for the House of Representatives Election scheduled for Falgun 21, offices of Chief Election Officers have been established in all 77 districts, and offices of Election Officers have been set up in 88 constituencies under the first-past-the-post electoral system.