Election campaigning banned from midnight on May 18

Kathmandu. The Election Commission (EC) has decided to suspend the election to the House of Representatives scheduled for March 4 from 12:00 midnight. The EC has also decided to instruct the Chief District Officers and security bodies of all the districts to fully comply with the election code of conduct during this period.

The Election Commission has decided not to allow the activities prohibited in accordance with Clause 24 of the Election (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2073 and Clause 17 and 18 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082 by mobilizing the individuals and mechanisms designated by the District Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee. Commission Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said that the meeting decided to take immediate action against anyone involved in such activities and inform the Commission about such activities.

Likewise, all public and private vehicles except those meant for essential services will be banned from 12:00 midnight on March 4 until the voting concludes on March 4. The EC has included ambulances, fire trucks, mortuary vehicles, blood transfusion vehicles, vehicles of security bodies, electricity repair, drinking water and sewerage, vehicles used for the repair of telecommunication services, vehicles of diplomatic missions and those who have obtained passes to be used on the election day.

The EC has also decided to ban the sale and distribution of alcohol seven days before the polling date until the declaration of final election results. The EC has taken the decision in order to prevent possible activities like making noise under the influence of alcohol during election campaigning and influencing voters by political parties and candidates by forcing them to consume alcohol. The Commission has urged all the stakeholders for necessary facilitation and coordination as per its decision.

A meeting of the High Level Election Security Committee formed as per the Clause 3 of the Election Security (Management) Directive, 2078 BS took the decision to this effect. EC Spokesperson Bhattarai said that the meeting decided to write to the Ministry of Home Affairs to make arrangements accordingly for holding the elections in a free, credible and fear-free environment.

On the day of voting, arrangements will be made for the operation of international and domestic flights as usual. The EC has also decided to allow the passengers with tickets for international and domestic flights to use the motor vehicles provided by the private airlines while travelling from the airport to the hotel where they stay at home and from the hotel where they stay at home to the airport.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) has urged the government to provide emergency health assistance to the employees and security personnel deputed in all the polling centres for the election to the House of Representatives.

The Ministry of Health and Population and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration have been requested to keep doctors, health workers and medicines ready in hospitals and health institutions across the country so that they can provide essential and emergency treatment services.

NHRC Spokesperson Narayan Bhattarai said the Commission has urged the government of Nepal, provincial government, local levels and all stakeholders to make arrangement of necessary support as per the decision and letter issued by the Commission.

According to the EC, the managerial work of the election to the members of the House of Representatives scheduled for March 4 is continuing as per the schedule approved by the Commission. The government has already decided to give a three-day public holiday before and after the election day in order to hold the elections in a free, fair and fear-free environment.

The EC has already sent letters to the concerned ministries and local levels to make arrangements for the use of government structures such as educational institutions, health posts and ward offices as well as the physical property of these government structures from March 2 to 21 in order to run the voting process in a systematic manner.