Nepal local polls: Code of Conduct bars ministers, public portfolio holders from campaigning with government expenses

Kathmandu : In wake of upcoming local elections in Nepal, the Election Commission of the Himalayan Nation has endorsed a code of conduct that would go into effect past Friday midnight barring ministers and public portfolio holders from campaigning out of government expenses.

The poll body which is responsible for conducting and monitoring elections held a press conference on Friday to announce that the code of conduct will be effective immediately.

According to the now effective code of conduct, no individual will be allowed to communicate in the media space or post on social media platforms against contesting parties or candidates. EC also clarified that for the duration, contesting parties or candidates can campaign and advertise only through their official websites.

“This was first enlisted in the year 2048 (BS) and has continued since then in every election code of conduct, a sitting minister or person holding a public post cannot campaign using the government or public resources, this has continued for decades. We talk about equal play-in-field, allowing sitting minister or political persona to use government facilities to campaign as she/he fulfils various roles then disparity would come in between the competitors standing in the fray. We have worked on managing and balancing it,” Chief Election Commissioner, Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya said in a press briefing.