KATHMANDU: Main opposition party in the parliament, CPN-UML has abstained signing in the election code of conduct meant for the upcoming local election citing that there was noise in the hall while discussing on the document.

The Election Commission had invited 79 registered political parties to participate in the local level elections to be held on May 13 and urged them to sign in the commitment to abide by the election code of conduct.

After the EC officials urged all political parties to sign the code of conduct, fringe political parties protested arguing they should be allowed to express their view on the issues included in the code of conduct. When the political parties started chanting slogans against the Commission, the hall witnessed a confusion. Many political parties including Nepali Congress, CPN-Maoist Center, Janata Samajbadi Party signed in the document;  however, UML refrained from signing in the document.

Responding the media people, UML representative in the meeting Ramesh Badal said that his party did not sign the document as the environment was not worth discussing and signing there (at the EC).

However, EC spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel said that the parties have been invited to sign the code of conduct as it has already been published in the Gazette in accordance with the law and Constitution.