HoR election: Parties commit to Code of Conduct

KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) has established the Office of the Election Code of Conduct Implementation and appointed Election Officers.

The Commission also organized a discussion with political parties registered to participate in the House of Representatives member election-2082 on the implementation of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082. The discussion was held in the presence of Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari, Commissioners Dr. Janaki Kumari Tuladhar and Sagun Shumsher Rana, and Commission Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut.

Political parties participating in the program stated that they are committed to conducting the upcoming election in a clean, free, impartial, credible, and fear-free environment.

They affirmed that they would strictly comply with election-related laws, including the Constitution of Nepal, the Election Commission Act, 2073; the Political Parties Act, 2073; the Election (Offences and Punishments) Act, 2073; the House of Representatives Member Election Act, 2074; the National Assembly Member Election Act, 2075; and the Election Code of Conduct, 2082.

They also expressed their commitment to appear whenever summoned by the Commission, the Election Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee and its subcommittees, Election Officers, and Polling Officers in relation to the election process.

The Commission noted that parties suggested strengthening monitoring mechanisms for effective implementation of the code of conduct and urged vigilance in controlling and regulating false information, propaganda, and hate speech circulating on social media.

Responding to questions and concerns raised by party representatives regarding the implementation of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Bhandari urged all parties to refrain from the politics of prohibition and to participate in the election in full compliance with the law.

Election Commissioner Sagun Shumsher Rana, who also serves as the coordinator of the Central Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee, informed that the Commission will utilize social media monitoring tools to regulate online platforms.

With the commitment expressed by all registered political parties to implement prevailing election laws and the code of conduct, the Commission stated that it is confident the code will be implemented honestly and effectively through cooperation among all stakeholders.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5, the Commission has established the offices of the Chief Election Officer and Election Officers in all 77 districts and 88 constituencies under the first-past-the-post electoral system, according to Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai.