EC receives 254 complaints, bans alcohol sales

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 28: Officials at the Election Commission (EC) have stated that all preparations for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5 have reached the final stage.

According to Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, spokesperson for the EC, ballot papers, ballot boxes, and other election materials have been delivered to all districts. Likewise, the Voter Education Programme is going on by mobilising volunteers in 6,743 wards across 753 local levels.

Bhattarai said that out of 254 complaints received by the Central Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee, including those submitted via email, personal registration, and media reports, clarifications have been sought for 88 complaints, and responses have been received for 57. Addressing a regular meeting on Friday, spokesperson Bhattarai stated that the EC has sought clarification from 37 candidates and political parties. Of these, 33 were political parties and four candidates.

The EC has also sought clarifications from 51 education institutions, teachers, and public servants. Of them, eight are  from Koshi Province, 13 from Madhes, 40 from Bagmati, six from Gandaki, seven from Lumbini and four each from Karnali, and Sudurpashchim. The EC is continuing investigations and taking action on complaints with the aim of minimising violations of the Code of Conduct (COC).

“To minimise incidents of violations of the election Code of Conduct, the EC is continuing the process of investigating complaints received and taking necessary action,” spokesperson Bhattarai stated. The Central Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee, District Code of Conduct Monitoring Committees, Code of Conduct Officers, security forces, and Election Officers have been actively working to minimise COC violation cases, Bhattarai added.

Basnet fined Rs. 25,000 

According to the EC, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, a leader of the Nepali Communist Party and former Minister of Home Affairs, who is also a candidate from Jajarkot-1, has been fined for a Code of Conduct violation.

“It has been decided to impose a fine of Rs. 25,000 on Shakti Bahadur Basnet, a candidate from Jajarkot Constituency No. 1 representing the Nepali Communist Party, for acting contrary to Section 13, 

Sub-section 1, Clauses (J) and (N) of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, pursuant to Section 23, Sub-section 3 of the Election Commission Act, 2073, and Section 48, Sub-section 1 of the Code of Conduct,” a press release stated.

Similarly, the EC has imposed a fine of Rs. 25,000 each on Nikolas Bhusal, Khagendra Sunar, and the Shram Sanskriti Party.

The EC has also announced a ban on the distribution of liquor from Friday until the final poll results are declared. 

All vehicles, except emergency vehicles, diplomatic vehicles, and those with EC-issued passes, will be prohibited from operating from 12:00 am on March 4 until 12:00 pm on March 5.

Meanwhile, the EC has identified 612 cases of toxic information. The Information Ethics Promotion Unit operating under the EC Information and Coordination Centre has so far identified 612 instances of toxic content and forwarded them to the concerned authorities.

The EC has also coordinated with social media companies to minimise negative content online. According to Bhattarai, social media companies have established election units in their offices to address election-related content.