Silence period begins for polls

Kathmandu, May 11: The Election Commission (EC) has enforced a ‘silence period’ from Tuesday midnight for the local level elections slated for May 13.

The silence period was enforced after completing all logistic and administrative preparations, the EC informed. 

According to the EC, the silence period starts 48 hours before the polling and will remain till the voting centres are closed. Arrangement has been made to cast vote from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm on the polling day, the EC said.

Speaking at a special press meet organised on Tuesday, Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya said a silence period has been enforced for holding election in a free, fair and fear-free environment.

Thapaliya urged all political parties, their candidates, office bearers, civil society organisations, media and voters not to carry out any kind of publicity campaign until voting concludes.

He also called upon all the concerned parties to help conclude the local polls in a free, fair, fearless and credible manner.

The EC has asked all to abide by the provisions of the election code of conduct during the period and remove all their respective election symbols, publicity materials, including posters and banners displayed within 300 meters of the polling centres.

Similarly, electoral campaigning through any kind of digital platform such as Facebook is also forbidden.

Chief Commissioner Thapaliya also asked the candidates and political parties to remove publicity materials which were posted on social media prior to the starting of the silence period.

The Commission has stated that the responsibility of monitoring social networking sites has been given to the cyber bureau experts of Nepal Police and the Nepali Army.

As per the law, anyone flouting the election code of conduct during the period would be liable to a fine up to Rs. 100,000 or even face termination of candidacy.

Additionally, use of stickers, caps, logos, bags and scarfs among other things symbolising particular candidates or political parties are prohibited. The media should refrain from disseminating news for the publicity of candidates and political parties.

Thapaliya said that any person or organisation violating the code of conduct and standards would be brought to book.

He also informed that the authority has been delegated to all the Chief District Officers through a special circular to monitor the compliance of the directives issued for the silence period and to take action against the violators if necessary.

Mechanism had been set up at various levels to monitor the violation of election code of conduct, he said.

The EC has set up central, district level and local level mechanisms to monitor the activities of the silence period and to take action in case of violation.

In addition to these mechanisms, the EC has deployed micro monitoring teams with special authority in the districts and municipalities considered to be particularly sensitive, the EC informed.

EC’s Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel said that the code of conduct would be strictly monitored.

Stating that there could be ‘sponsored posts’ on social media of candidates and their supporters, against the code of conduct, the EC has asked them to remove such contents prior to the beginning of the silence period and not to post new contents.

Voter’s education on May 11 and 12

The Election Commission (EC) has directed the office of the returning officers to educate voters about the correct method of casting votes, through the means of posters, brochures and other printed materials including the first two sample ballot papers for the local level election.

The Commission has directed the offices of the Chief Returning Officers of 77 districts, the offices of 676 returning officers, provincial and district election offices to educate the voters on Wednesday and Thursday, who reach the polling centres to receive voter’s ID cards.

Poudel said that the name of the election symbol of any political party or candidates should not be mentioned while informing the voters about the method of casting votes.

109,088 employees deployed for the local poll

The Election Commission has deployed 109,088 staff for the local level election.

According Poudel, all staff had already reached the polling centres. Similarly, a total 65, 865 volunteers have been deployed for the election.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has stated that about 260,000 security personnel and 300,000 other personnel have been mobilised for the local polls.

A large number of security personnel and personnel have been mobilised to maintain necessary security arrangements and election management to conduct the election in a free, fair and fearless manner.

Chief Commissioner Thapaliya has urged the voters to participate in the polls with confidence as the security arrangements have been made tight and reliable during the polling period.

Similarly, the MoHA has given a public holiday across the country on May 13.

The election body is holding elections in all the 753 local levels of the country in one phase on May 13.

According to spokesperson Poudel, out of 79 political parties registered to take part in the local level elections, 65 parties are contesting the polls.

 Total 35,221 office bearers will be elected from the local poll.  

According to the EC, 355 office bearers of different political parties have been elected unopposed and 35 independent candidates including six ward chairpersons have also been elected unopposed.