As the date for the election of members of the House of Representatives and members of the Provincial Assembly 2022 approaches, a written complaint has been filed in the office of the Chief Election Officer of various districts of Province 1 for activities that have violated the election code of conduct. According to the Chief Election Officer’s office, 13 written complaints have been filed against the election code of conduct till November 14 in the district and 11 employees have faced action or have been removed from the position of election staff.
According to Panchthar representative Sahaman Bishwakarma, three written complaints have been filed in the Chief Election Officer’s office till November 14. Chief Election Officer Tikendra Dahal said that separate complaints were registered regarding the election rally of the alliance party in the premises of Falgunanda Rural Municipality during the election campaign, the permanent teachers of government schools were circulated during the election campaign and the political parties had distributed football and other materials to clubs in the community. The commission said that it will investigate the complaint and proceed with further action.
According to Dhankuta representative Ishwar Thapa, the district election office informed that the written complaint against the code of conduct of the member of the House of Representatives and provincial assembly has not been received by them. Dhurva Karki, Coordinator of the Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee, said that although there were verbal complaints about the violation of the code of conduct by the political parties and candidates who participated in the election, no written complaint was received. Monitoring committee coordinator Karki said that with one week left before the elections, there are up to two complaints per day by phone, Viber and WhatsApp about violations of the code of conduct.
According to Okhaldhunga representative Saraswati Baniya, five written complaints have been received by the office of the Chief Election Officer till November 14 on the charge of violation of the code of conduct. Code of Conduct Monitoring Officer Yagyaraj Upreti said that three out of five of the people against whom the complaints were filed, have submitted a written clarification.
According to Khotang representative Taranath Phuyal, two complaints have been received at the district election office regarding violation of the election code of conduct. Maoist centre leader Jamanser Rai has filed a complaint against 10 people including Ward Chairperson Leela Kumar Chauhan of Majhuwagadhi Municipality-8 Dorpachiuridanda, Diktel Roopakot, for conducting election programs against the code of conduct.
According to Sankhuwasabha representative Bhawin Karki, action has been taken against 11 employees for violating the election code of conduct. According to Chiranjeevi Adhikari, coordinator of the monitoring committee, they are 10 teachers and one employee of the government. The coordinating officer of the monitoring committee said that action was taken against 11 people based on the written complaint about the candidate’s posts, likes, shares and comments. After the explanation, the Chief Election Officer’s office said that everyone has committed to following the election code of conduct to make the election fearless and fair. Those 11 have been removed from the being election staff.
According to Solukhumbu representative Anju Karki, three written complaints have been filed at the Chief Election Officer’s office on the allegation of activities against the election code of conduct. The Office of the Chief Election Officer has informed that three written complaints have been received till November 14. Assistant Election Officer Nagendra Kumar Kalakheti said that a complaint was filed against Khumbupasang Lhamu Rural Municipality’s Deputy Chairperson, Mapya Dudhkoshi Rural Municipality’s Chairperson and Thulung Dudhkoshi Rural Municipality’s Chairperson for acting against the code of conduct.