KATHMANDU: Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari has expressed serious concern over the publication of pre-election surveys and predictions of electoral outcomes.
Speaking at a discussion program in Kathmandu on Tuesday regarding voter education and election publicity for the House of Representatives election, Bhandari said the Election Commission’s attention has been drawn to activities that publish estimates of victory or defeat and opinion poll results before voting, in violation of the election code of conduct.
He stated that releasing survey results based merely on assumptions could discourage candidates and undermine the competitive environment of the election. He urged concerned stakeholders not to engage in such practices.
Bhandari also called on individuals and media outlets not to create or disseminate misleading content generated through artificial intelligence and other digital tools on social media. While technology has made information dissemination easier, its misuse could jeopardize the fairness of the election process, he warned.
He appealed to the media to exercise restraint and uphold their responsibility as the fourth estate by refraining from circulating speculative survey results that could disturb the electoral environment.
Emphasizing that the protection of election integrity and voters’ right to cast a secret ballot is a shared constitutional duty, Bhandari called for everyone’s positive role in ensuring the successful conduct of the election scheduled for March 5.
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