Act on code violations, EC tells govt

KATHMANDU, JUL 29 -

The Election Commission (EC) has directed the government to take immediate action against individuals and parties, including the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist, that have breached the election code of conduct.

The directive follows the CPN-Maoist move to launch an anti-election campaign on Thursday. Party leaders had then staged a symbolic protest and smashed dummy ballot boxes. The code that came into effect last Monday bars all parties and individuals from conducting activities that could disrupt or affect the election preparations.

“The government should have taken prompt action against those involved in violating the election code,” Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety told the Post.

In the directive, the EC has sought a clarification from the government on its ‘negligence’ in taking timely action against those involved in violating the code. It also asked the government to keep ‘strict vigil’ to avoid violations in the future.

EC officials say they are concerned about the CPN-Maoist, I/NGOs and individuals violating the election code even after it issued directives to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) asking it to maintain security and strictly implement the code.

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