Code of Conduct for Local Poll comes into effect

Kathmandu / April 8: The code of conduct for the local level election has come into effect from today midnight.

Shaligram Sharma Paudel, spokesperson of the Election Commission, said at a press meet held in the afternoon that the EC has decided to bring the code of conduct for the election into effect from today itself.

The local level election is slated for May 13.

The government, constitutional bodies, semi-government agencies, political parties, candidates, persons holding public posts, news media, observers, NGOs, school and university teachers and staff and voters should follow the code of conduct.

As per the code, no new policy, plans and programmes can be approved during the election period. Similarly, laying of the foundation stone, inauguration, supervision and study of any projects is also barred.

Except for election purposes, transfer and posting of employees are also barred.

The news media and journalists will have to follow an 11-point code of conduct.

Until the May 13 local poll is over, news media and their employees including journalists should not take any donations, gifts or financial assistance from the political parties, candidates or their representatives, according to the code of conduct.

The code bars news media from publishing or broadcasting news in favour of or against any political parties.

The news media may publish or broadcast advertisements of the political parties or candidates as specified. However, such ads cannot be made public during the silence period.

The code of conduct also bars people from publishing or broadcasting any content in favour of or against any political parties in social media and electronic means of communications.

The code of conduct is expected to make a fair, impartial and transparent local poll.