In a program supported by the coalition and Rastriya Janamukti Party, it was seen that a girl child was used. The program was attended by Home Minister Balkrishna Khand and Santosh Pandey, a candidate for the upcoming election from Loktantrik Samajabadi Party.
While the Election Commission is saying that no one will be allowed to violate the code of conduct, it was found that children were used in the election campaigning program held in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi in the presence of the Home Minister on November 2.
The five-party coalition has used a girl studying in Grade 6 of Sunrise School for the upcoming election of the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly. She had performed a dance with a flag of Nepali Congress and their theme song at the program’s inauguration.
Section 13 of Chapter 4 of Election Code of Conduct 2079, Clause (k) states that political parties, fraternal organizations of candidate parties and related persons shall not use or cause children in election propaganda, public meetings and processions, and in Clause D, persons who conduct propaganda shall refer to the election of party or party candidates. Although it is said not to carry inscribed symbols or flags, the code of conduct has been violated by a girl dancing with a flag and saying “Nepali Congress Jindabaad” in a program attended by the Home Minister.
Similarly, the candidates of the five-party alliance are campaigning by violating the election code of conduct by putting up banners with the candidate’s photo on their vehicles and playing with sound equipment.
In section 13 (n) of chapter 4 of the Code of Conduct, it is mentioned that there should not be the use of musical instruments in the campaign. However, the candidate used the same.
Similarly, Janamat Party candidates Pramod Kumar Raut and Saladin Alam, independent candidate Keshav Vikram Khadka and Ishrat Ali were also found to have posted posters and banners on poles and walls against the code of conduct.
In Chapter 4, Section 13 (h) of the Code of Conduct, it is not allowed to place or hang the election symbol of a party or candidate on a pole of a private house or public building, park or road.
Chief Election Officer’s Office Rupandehi’s spokesperson Shobhakar Kharel said that if there is a violation of the code of conduct, a written complaint can be filed with evidence and no complaint has been received so far.
Bishnu Prasad Gyawali, the coordinator of the Election Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee, Rupandehi, said that on October 17, the photos and videos of the girl were sent to the commission.