Kathmandu, March 1
Election Commission has enforced its code of conduct from Wednesday, days after the announcement of an election plan that, among other things, aims to conduct local level elections around mid-May. The code will apply to the government, government ministers, staff of local levels or bodies, government and non-government organisations, security agencies, sister wings of political parties and the media.
The code bars the government from transferring, promoting or appointing employees civil servants during elections. It also disallows introduction of new programmes in the name of development, transfer of funds and fresh allotment of funds. The code will be applicable to candidates from April 29.
EC called Prime Minister and ministers at its secretariat on Wednesday morning to provide information about the code and direct them to implement them strictly. It has called government secretaries at its secretariat at 3 pm.
Election commissioner Narendra Dahal said: Now on, the government and ministers will not be able to take decisions, which will have a bearing on elections.
If the government has to take such decisions, it will have to get a go-ahead from EC. The code has barred ministers or other individuals holding public office from campaigning for/against a certain candidate or a political party. But a minister, if he is a candidate, can campaign for himself/herself.
Lakh-rupee fine
As per the code, EC can take a range of actions against a minister if s/he violates the code. This includes blacklisting the minister in question to slapping a fine of up to one lakh rupees.
Ministers will be liable to fine if they campaign for or against any candidate. EC will even have the right to scrap candidatures of such the offenders. EC can put ministers involved in repeated violations of the code on the blacklist, barring them from contesting elections for upto five years.
The code has barred candidates, political parties and their sister wings from using office buildings, guesthouses, vehicles and other things belonging to the government, public enterprises and local bodies.
After enforcement of the code, each candidate will be allowed to use a four-wheeler and two motorcycles, according to EC.
