INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, MARCH 17The Election Commission today issued a 78-page election code of conduct requiring political parties
to make payments for expenses incurred during election campaign through the banking system.
EC's 'unjust' election code
Political parties focused on local elections
The poll panel has set code for political parties, media, voters,
poll observers, government employees, and general public.
The main points of the code of conduct are: The code prohibits
the use of public property during campaigning.It prohibits people from creating fake accounts on social networking sites in order to
influence polls.It prohibits people from making hateful speeches or misleading remarks against anybody on social networking sites.It
stipulates that political parties should designate an officer responsible for campaign expenditure.It stipulates that parties receiving more
than Rs 25,000 in donation from any person should receive it through the banking system.Political parties should submit details of
expenditure within the stipulated deadline.Only the main campaigner can use helicopters for the purpose of election campaign.Helicopter
expense should be within the limit of expenditure sanctioned by the Election Commission.Vehicles with foreign number plates should not be
used during election campaign.The code of conduct prohibits parties and candidates from disseminating any information for or against any
party or candidate through online media, social networking site, or any other means of communication.It stipulates that local
representatives will have to resign from their post in order to contest local polls.It also prohibits voters from propagating baseless
information for or against any candidate on Viber, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Messenger, YouTube or any other mode of communication.It
prohibits parties' cadres and supporters from using logos, stickers, clothes, shirts, T-shirts, jackets, scarves, caps, badges masks, or
lockets that have parties' flags while campaigning for the parties' candidates.It stipulates that more than one party should not hold
rallies and or meetings at the same venue at the same time.People are prohibited from placing parties' flags on individual and public
property without the consent of the owner.The code prohibits teachers of those schools and educational institutions that receive partial or
full funding from soliciting votes for any political party or candidate.It orders parties not to announce any assistance package, in cash or
kind, for any organisation or club.A version of this article appears in the print on March 18, 2022, of The Himalayan Times
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com