PM Oli appeals vote for Badal despite silence period, EC expresses its serious concern

KATHMANDU, May 19: A day before the by-elections for a vacant seat in the National Assembly (NA), Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has appealed to the voters from the party to cast their votes in favor of the party's candidate Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal'’

National Assembly by-elections are being held in Bagmati Province on Wednesday. 

Admitting that there are several differences in the party, Chairman Oli urged the party leaders and cadres to strengthen the party unity. "A task force was formed to resolve the problems that have emerged within the party. In this context, it is the duty of all of us to strengthen party unity,” he said. 

Issuing a written appeal on Wednesday amidst the ongoing silence period, Chairman Oli said that it would be an inexcusable act to vote against the party's official candidate.

It is to be noted that the ruling CPN-UML has fielded Home Minister and party leader Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ as the candidate for the seat in the upper house from Bagmati Province. Opposition alliance including the Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) has fielded Dr Khimlal Devkota. A faction of the ruling UML --- close to senior leaders duo Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal-- joined the opposition alliance while fielding Dr Devkota. 

The EC is holding by-polls to elect legislators in a vacant seat in the upper house of parliament that fell vacant after the former lawmaker Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’, who was elected from the CPN (Maoist Center),  was suspended as the member of parliament after he joined the ruling CPN-UML.

The members of the province assembly and the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of rural municipalities, mayors and deputy mayors of municipalities will cast their votes. A total of 348 voters, including 110 province assembly members and 238 chiefs and deputy chiefs of local levels are eligible to vote in the by-polls in Bagmati Province.

EC expresses concern 

The Election Commission (EC), however, expressed its  serious concerns over the violation of election code of conduct though silence periods for the by-polls are in place. 

Issuing a public statement on Wednesday, the election body said that issuing press releases, carrying out publicity and making projections about the election results go against the election code of conduct. 

According to the EC, the silence period for the by-polls began on Monday (May 17) midnight.