Election Commission Warns Against Obstructing Political Campaigning Ahead of Upcoming Polls

Kathmandu. The Election Commission has clarified that no political party or candidate's election campaigning activities should be obstructed by any other political party, candidate, party worker, or general citizen.

The Commission issued this call after receiving complaints and grievances that other parties or candidates were obstructing the campaigning of participants in the House of Representatives election, 2082, scheduled for this Falgun 21. The Commission mentioned in a statement published today that it is monitoring election campaigning through various means.

The statement issued by spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai noted that the Commission has been seriously drawn to the attention of such matters reported through various media outlets. He stated that the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, also addresses this issue in Article 13, Sub-article (1), Clause (ङ), concerning the conduct to be followed by political parties, candidates, or their affiliated organizations and related individuals.

That article stipulates that "No political party, candidate, or the party's affiliated organization shall disrupt or obstruct in any way the procession, mass meeting, corner meeting, meeting, gathering, or other program organized by them."

Similarly, the Commission has drawn the attention of all concerned parties to the provision in the Election (Offenses and Penalties) Act, 2073, Article 20, Sub-article (1), Clause (क), which states that anyone who obstructs, causes obstruction, detains, or causes detention with the intent to deprive any person of the right to stand for election, campaign for election, or exercise the right to vote according to prevailing federal laws related to elections, shall be subject to a penalty as specified in Clause (ख) of the same Article: "a fine up to two lakh rupees or imprisonment up to three years or both."

He stated that the responsibility for conducting the upcoming election in an independent, fair, impartial, and fear-free environment rests with all political parties, candidates, general citizens, and stakeholders. The Commission has requested all concerned stakeholders not to engage in acts such as obstructing, causing obstruction, detaining, or causing detention with the intent to deprive others of campaigning according to prevailing federal laws related to elections. The Commission has informed all stakeholders that contrary actions will be deemed contrary to the code of conduct.