Code violations go unchecked

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KATHMANDU, NOV 02 -

With a few weeks remaining for the Constituent Assembly ( CA ) elections, wanton violations of election code of conduct and election related violence are being reported from different parts of the country.

A majority of complaints are related to publicity code violence and organising assembly in public places. In Sindhupalchowk, the major parties topped the ranking of code violation. Suresh Sharma, district election office chief, said the parties in question have been directed to follow the standard set by the Election Commission (EC) after the complaints were made.

In Ilam, the district election office sent warning letters to the parties that were found violating the election code of conduct on Friday. Nirjala Chudal of the election office said the UCPN (Maoist), the Nepali Congress (NC), the CPN-UML, the Federal Limbuwan State Council and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Loktantrik have been served the warning for breaching the code. She said the office will take action against the parties that do not follow the election code of conduct.

In Siraha, political parties have been found putting up colorful posters and banners at public space, electric poles and school walls to promote their candidates, in breach of the EC rules.

Along with code of conduct violation, the cases of election related violence is also escalating across the country. Two campaign vehicles of the UCPN (Maoist) were torched in Morang and Sunsari districts on Thursday night. Police said they have not identified the suspects in both cases, though the UCPN (Maoist) have accused the activists of the rival parties behind the incidents.        

In another incident, UML cadres allegedly attacked NC’s campaign team at Dhap village in Darchula on Friday afternoon. NC activist Durga Bohara was injured in the incident.  

As many as 57 cadres from different political parties were hurt in clashes that took place in various Mid-western districts so far.

According to Informal Sector Service Center (Insec), violence during campaigns were reported in districts like Rukum, Pyuthan, Humla, Bardiya, Rolpa, Dolpa, Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Dang, Salyan and Mugu. Forty-four cases of code violation have been reported in the region so far
.