Kathmandu. According to the Election Commission, the Central Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee has received 85 complaints so far and the political parties and candidates concerned have sought clarifications from 54 of them. The rest have not been received.

So far, 79 persons have been asked to furlough clarification while six have been asked to re-clarify, said NHRC’s legal officer Mohan Raj Joshi. The EC has also sought clarification from the political parties, candidates, government and non-government organisations, media and journalists for violating the election code of conduct. However, a letter has been sent to the registered media houses and the journalists associated with them through the Press Council Nepal for clarification and other actions.

The meeting also sought clarification from the Press Council (NPC) on Setopati Online, which publishes news that the party and candidates are being elected by conducting opinion polls in the name of election analysis.

Complaints against the violation of election code of conduct have been received at the district level and necessary action is being taken. The EC has been forwarding the process of necessary investigation and action on the complaints received in order to minimize the incidents of violation by effectively enforcing the election code of conduct. The commission said it is studying 54 responses received. According to him, the Central Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee, District Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee, District Code of Conduct Monitoring Officer and the concerned election offices are working for the effective implementation of the code of conduct.

According to Clause 32 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, Assistant Chief District Officers of all 77 districts have been assigned as Monitoring Officers to monitor matters other than financial matters, while the Chief Fund Controller and Coop Controller have been assigned to monitor financial matters. According to the Commission, the task of informing the stakeholders about the code of conduct and committing to follow the code of conduct is being carried out in all the districts in a short span of time.

It is also stated that the process of legal action has been initiated against those found guilty by seeking clarification from the district itself regarding the complaints received at the district level.