ELECTION CODE VIOLATION
The Kathmandu Post
26 November 2017
ELECTION
CODE VIOLATION
In this time of elections, all
the parties especially the left alliance and democratic bloc are making every
effort to reach out to all voters through massive election campaigns. It seems
as though they have not left a stone unturned in terms of finding ways to
garner the support of constituents. Election codes of conduct have been
undermined and violated in most constituencies. The misuse of money and muscle
by the major parties can be easily seen. Children too have been massively used
in the elections. Yet the Election Commission (EC) and its district based
authorities have not taken any steps to control and punish election codes
violators.
It was interesting to read the
news about the EC being serious about taking action against external poll
observers (“CEC hardens position on
int’l poll observers” November 23, Page 1). According to CEC Yadav, there
is no need for international observers to certify Nepal’s election as long as
Nepali people accept the electoral process and the results. Why did the EC
allow them to observe the upcoming elections? There has been a trend in Nepal
of inviting international missions to observe elections. Was it necessary for
our EC to invite these international missions to observe Nepal’s election
process?
Time has come for the EC to be
tough on its stand against the election codes violators. So far, not a single
case has been heard about the EC taking action against any violators. A team of
three European Union representatives have been found violating election code in
Kanchanpur as reported (“EU reps violate
election code in Kanchanpur, November 23, Page 1). The poll body has
allowed four international observers for the upcoming provincial and federal
elections. However, the EC should think twice about allowing any external
observers to observe the polls in the coming days.
Rai
Biren Bangdel
Maharjgunj
http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2017-11-26/election-code-violation.html
