KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) has sought clarification from Keshav Sthapit, the mayoral candidate of CPN-UML in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, for the second time.

The EC sought a 24 hours clarification from Sthapit for the second time, stating that Sthapit’s remark regarding Balen Shah, an independent mayoral candidate in Kathmandu metropolis, is not in line with the Election Code of Conduct 2022.

UML candidate Sthapit had dubbed his rival Shah as an ‘international fraudster’ at a program held earlier this week. The EC has asked Sthapit to clearly state the reasons for dubbing his candidate ‘international fraudster’.

Prior to this, the EC had sought clarification from him regarding his statement against a female questioner at a program organized at a college in Kathmandu. He had told the lady that she was nice but her tongue was bad.

The EC has so far sought clarification from 37 individuals and political parties for violating the election code of conduct.

The EC sought clarification from Sudurpaschim Chief Minister Trilochan Bhatta, Bagmati Province Minister of Social Development Kumari Moktan and Election Observation Committee Nepal Chairperson Pradip Pokharel for violating the code of conduct.