Kathmandu, Nepal, May 3, 2022: With the approaching date for the local level election, violations of election code of conduct have also intensified in different parts of the country. The Election Commission (EC) has become failure to implement the election code of conduct to accomplish the scheduled May 13 local body election in a dissent manner.
Violations of election code of conduct are rampant not only due to the failure of the poll body to implement in a effective manner but also the ignorance and negligence of the concerned stake holders including the political parties, candidates and their cadres on the name of intensifying the election campaign.
The EC can adopt stringent measures to implement the election code of conduct by taking severe actions against the violators. However, it has not taken any tough measures against the violators expect urging them to abide by the code of conduct.
Though, implementing the election code of conduct is not merely the moral bound issue but legally and most of provisions fall under the existing rules and regulations, not only the political parties, candidates and the citizens but also the government and its other state agencies are also violating the election code of conduct.
Some provisions of the code of conduct, however, sound like impractical to bring them into implementation into effective manner until and unless the concerned stake holders present responsibly towards the nation and society.
The provisions like taking part in the election process as a responsible citizen and in a peaceful manner; not influencing to the voters; not making any comment publicly or through mass media in support of or against any candidate or political party; respecting different ethnicities, communities, sexes, religions, languages, regions and cultures; not accepting gifts or exchange any other goods from/with candidates, political parties, employees, or other people related to the election have become far to achieve.
Though some political parties including the main opposition CPN-UML had refused to sign a commitment paper on adhering to the election code of conduct issued by the EC, all are equally responsible to abide by the election code of conduct. The EC can take action against those who had objected to sign in the commitment paper even if any faults were found on their side.
Social media seem to have misused to influence to the voters by making comments in support of or against any candidate or political party. The UML had lodged an objection over the code of conduct over use of social media stating that barring people from posting contents in the social media violates the right to expression.
