Sixteen Instances of Election Code Violations Reported in Banke Ahead of Polls

Nepalgunj. As the election date approaches, 16 incidents of violation of the election code of conduct have been registered across all three constituencies in Banke. These incidents occurred last week.

Election Code of Conduct Implementation and Monitoring Officer Purnabahadur Khatri stated that candidates involved in the violations of the election code of conduct were warned and urged not to repeat such activities.

Complaints were filed regarding incidents in Constituency No. 1 where programs were organized on school premises, graveling was done in various locations in Constituency No. 2, vehicles with Indian license plates were used, 'lockets' were distributed to voters, and campaigning was conducted with flags and slogans.

Similarly, registered incidents include defamatory expressions against candidates through social media, a candidate providing meals at an old age home, the local body chairman himself campaigning, officials affiliated with non-governmental organizations promoting a party through their social media, and the use of flags on vehicles.

Monitoring Officer Khatri, who is also the Assistant Chief District Officer of Banke, mentioned that in some places, candidates themselves admitted to violating the election code of conduct, and monitoring and necessary procedures were initiated as soon as such incidents came to light.

Monitoring Officer Khatri informed that incidents of code of conduct violations have started to decrease in recent days, and the Election Commission has already sought clarification in some cases. He added that some candidates were asked for verbal clarification and were instructed not to repeat such actions immediately.