Election candidates can organize rallies, gatherings from Nov 3-17

The Election Commission has said the candidates are allowed to organize rallies, mass assemblies and corner gatherings from November 3 to 17 in course of electioneering.

The election of the member of the House of Representatives (HoR) and Province Assembly is taking place in a single phase throughout the country on November 20.

Clause 13 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2022 issued by the Election Commission has stipulated the conduct that the political parties, candidates, the sister organizations of political parties, and related persons have to follow in course of running their election campaign including while organizing rallies, mass meetings, and corner meetings.

Election Commission’s spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel has reminded through a press release today that Clause 13 (Y) of the Code of Conduct stipulates that rallies, mass assemblies, and corner meetings can be held and the election-related materials can be publicized in the media only 17 days ahead of the voting day after the publication of the final name list of the candidates.

As per the election code of conduct, the candidate should himself or herself or through one’s representative submit to the Election Office within 15 days of the election the expenses of preparing the podium for organizing the mass meeting, rally or corner meeting during the election campaign.

Similarly, the candidates can use a maximum of 10 national flags while organizing any type of rally or conducting the mass meeting and corner meeting or door-to-door visits to the voters in course of the campaigning for the election. Likewise, publicizing any religion or faith is prohibited in course of electioneering.

The Election Commission has also reminded the candidates, parties, and sister organizations of parties and related people that the candidates or his/her families should not be subjected to any kind of fear, threat or coercion during the campaigning nor should the electioneering be done in a way to spread communal discord.

The Election Commission has been asking for explanations from the candidates on the basis of the monitoring carried out by it and the District Election Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee and on the basis of complaints and information regarding violations of the code, and candidates have been responding to the same.

The Commission has urged the political parties, candidates, and the sides concerned to refrain from carrying out any activity against the code of conduct. (RSS)