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The Election Commission (EC) has made a six-point decision for the political parties to publish and disseminate their election publicity materials for the purpose of the upcoming elections. The elections to the member of House of Representatives and Province Assembly are being held on November 20 in a single phase throughout the country. EC spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel said that a decision has been taken by which the political parties and the candidates can carry out election canvassing on the online media registered with the Department of Information and Broadcasting and enlisted in the Press Council Nepal, remaining under the Election Code of Conduct, 2022. Among the decisions include the one allowing the political parties and candidates to disseminate visual materials related to election campaigning through online media for maximum one minute. Similarly, the political parties can disseminate election publicity materials on the private sector online media by means of 'roadblock', content block, homepage, banner, detailed page banner and box advertisement. However, it should be indicated on the election publicity material that it is paid advertisement. The election publicity material disseminated in this way should not include in it any content that is defamatory to anyone, fake information, mis/dis-information and hate speech. If this type of content is found in the election publicity material, it would be considered in violation of the Election Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct also bars the dissemination of their election publicity materials by parties and candidates on foreign online media. The political parties and candidates are required to submit to the EC the details of the expenditure while disseminating the election publicity materials through online media including it in their election expenses details. Directive to make polling stations inclusive and disabled-friendly Meanwhile, the EC has issued directives for making the polling stations inclusive and disabled-friendly. It has directed the Chief Election Officer, the Election Officer, Polling Officer and all employees deputed to conduct the election in that connection. The EC has emphasized on the strict adherence to the 'Gender and Inclusion Policy in Election Management, 2077 BS' and the 'House of Representatives and Province Assembly Member Election (Voting) Guidelines, 2079 BS'.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said that the activities of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal may pose threat to the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly. Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand has directed the security agencies to keep a close eye on the activities of the Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal, which has announced to boycott the elections slated for November 20. The Home Ministry has brought a special security plan into implementation to curb the possible threats to the elections. The Home Ministry has decided to keep a close eye on the activities of the 12 parties that may pose threats to the elections and make a security strategy as per the same, an official at the Home Ministry said. The Ministry said that the activities of the cadres of Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal, Dharmendra Bastola-led Nepal Communist Party Bahumat, Mohan Baidhya-led Nepal Communist Party Krantikari (Maoist), Ahuti-led Baigyanik Samajbadi Communist Party can be a security challenge for the elections. Saying that the activities of the Swadhin Madhesh Janaabhiyan, Shiva Sena Nepal, Shahi Yuva Shakti Nepal and criminal groups among others can be against the elections, the Home Ministry has directed the security agencies to keep an eye on them. The Home Ministry has taken unhealthy competition among the political parties and extorting businesspersons as the security threats for the elections. Here are the 12 security threats in elections

1. Tarai Madhes Janata Party
2. Nepal Communist Party Bahumat
3. Baigyanik Communist Samajbadi Party
4. Nepal Communist Party Krantikari Maoist
5. Communist Party of Nepal
6. Organizational groups
7. Criminal groups
8. Shahi Yuva Shakti Nepal
9. Shiva Sena Nepal
10. Swadhin Madhes Janaabhiyan
11. Movement of people from open border areas
12. Anarchic ethnic groups

The Nov 20 elections is a direct contest between two sides because all major parties are contesting by forming two distinct alliances, one led by the Congress and another by the UML. The members in the NC-led electoral alliance or the so-called democratic left alliance are the CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal and Rastriya Janamorcha. The UML, meanwhile, leads the second alliance, and its members are the Upendra Yadav-led Janata Samajbadi, the royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party and other smaller parties. Bhojraj Pokharel, former chief election commissioner, says political parties are yet to get a full maturity, which means the capability to avoid provocation, develop more understanding and engage in logic-based decision-making. Analysts say November 20 elections too won’t deliver a stable government, as more than two parties are set to form the next government. An agreement between either NC and Maoist or UML and Maoist to lead the government on equal terms could sow the seeds of instability.  Political analyst Bishnu Dahal says, as a single party getting the majority votes is slim, Nepal is on the course of yet another period of political instability. Nepal has conducted seven parliamentary elections since 1959. But the upcoming election will be a historic one, in that it is the first to be held after the completion of parliament’s term. But as far as historic significance goes, that’s about it. It’s estimated that Rs 24.11bn will be spent on the Nov 20 elections. The security forces have asked for Rs 16bn. The Ministry of Finance, however, has agreed to spend Rs 8.822bn on security. For the first-past-the-post election system of the House of Representatives and the Provincial Assembly, the ballot paper has the election symbol and other details printed in red on a white background. While in the proportional election system, the ballot paper has black color printed on a white background.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Rajendra Lingden has urged one and all to take elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly seriously as they would be determining the future of the nation and people. He was of the view of taking the elections as an opportunity of liberating the nation from the grip of some limited political parties. In his address to the party’s election gathering in Sindhupalchowk today, the leader urged voters to support the party in the voting for the twin elections scheduled to take place simultaneously on coming November 20.  As he claimed, the party is capable of addressing the people’s needs for change and development. Also speaking on the occasion, RPP former Chair Pashupati Shamser Rana requested voters to give the party an opportunity to lead the nation. As he said, time demands people to warn for the building of a future of the nation by sending ‘qualified’ representatives to the parliament.