‘Publicity materials to be removed before commencement of silence period’

KATHMANDU: The silence period will commence from Tuesday midnight for the local level elections scheduled to take place on May 13. According to the Election Commission, Nepal, the silence period will begin 48 hours before the polling day and remain active till the voting centres are closed. The EC has informed that voting arrangement has been made from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm on the polling day. As per the election code of conduct enforced by the EC, the publicity materials of any political parties or candidates put up around 300-metre perimeter of polling centres should be removed before the commencement of silence period. The office-bearers and candidates of the political parties and sister-wings of the parties as well as the concerned individuals should abide by the election code of conduct during the silence period. EC Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel has informed that there will be no election publicity, debate, interaction, assembly, workshop/seminar during the silence period. Likewise, candidates and political parties are prohibited to solicit votes from voters via any medium during the period. The code of conduct also prohibits the concerned people and parties to post any message, information and publicity materials on social media, online, print and other mediums in support of any political parties and candidates. Meanwhile, the EC has mobilised an 18-member team under the leadership of a Joint Secretary to monitor the silence period. Likewise, there is a mechanism under Chief Officer in the district for monitoring while Returning Officer lead monitoring at the rural municipality level. The EC can penalise up to Rs 100,000 to those violating election code of conduct during the silence period. Also, the EC has authority to terminate the candidacy of the candidate in case of code violation. (With inputs from RSS) READ ALSO:

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