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The Election Commission on Sunday announced a code of conduct for the election of 19 National Assembly members slated for Jan 25, to be effective from Jan 16 till Jan 26.  

The code bars the use of public resources or assets for or against any party or candidate from Jan 16 to 26; use of government or public institutions or educational institutions for conducting poll-related gatherings or campaigns; production as well as use of materials with symbols of any party or candidate and publication as well as sharing of promotional contents through social media. 

It also prohibits officials of central, provincial and local executive bodies from using government resources and equipment for electioneering. 

In Nepal’s bicameral parliament, NA or the upper house consists of 59 members, of which 56 members are elected through the electoral college while three, including at least one woman, is nominated by the President on the recommendation of the government.

Ideally, NA is distinct from the lower house, which is dominated by politicians. It serves as an eclectic council of experts and scholars that advise the lower house or the House of Representatives during the lawmaking process. It plays a vital role in holding the HoR and the government to account. The upper house is also a permanent body, and the term of its member can last for a maximum of six years. One-third members retire every two years and elections are held accordingly. 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed Nepal Drugs Limited (NDL) to immediately start producing 20 generic medicines. He lauded the initiatives undertaken by NDL to produce medicines. 

The PM called a team of NDL, including its Chairperson Yagya Neupane, to his office and instructed the government pharmaceutical company to forthwith start production.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister directed the NDL to go ahead with its works in a new way, saying although it had carried out good job in medicine production in the past, obstructions were seen in this of late.

"The Nepal Drugs Limited had done a good job in production of medicines in the past. I understand that there were some obstructions in the meantime. I called this meeting with the thinking that the task of drug manufacturing should be expedited in a new manner. You start the work, I am ready to provide whatever support that is required of the government for the same," he added.

PM Dahal stressed on initiating works by producing 20 generic medicines for now and enhancing both its quality and volume in the future. He further added, "This is also one of the potential sectors for making the country prosperous. All things cannot be done at once. You, please, start work. I too will hold more discussions with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry. Let us carry out works in this sector in a way the people will get a feel of this."

NDL Chairman Neupane said that 10 generic medicines were being produced at present and homework is on for manufacturing 20 medicines immediately, the PM's Private Secretariat said.

He said the NDL could not carry out its works in an effective manner due to the outstanding liabilities that remained to be paid from the past.

He also expressed his commitment that the production would be made systematic and regular by managing some technical workforce, improving the quality of machines and purchasing some new machines.

The government is to take ahead the process to make the overdue payments of the contractors.

Holding a discussion with the contractors on Sunday, Prime Minister Dahal directed the concerned authority to proceed with the payment process.

According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the process to make the payment will start from today itself.

The contractors have been hitting the streets for a long time demanding payments for their completed works.

Prime Minister Dahal directed the Finance Ministry to speed up the development works by disbursing Rs 6.3 billion immediately.

Following the directive of the Prime Minister, the Finance Ministry has decided to proceed with the payment process from today itself.

Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Prakash Jwala, Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal and Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar among others were present in the meeting.

The parties in the ruling coalition have called for making the coalition candidates victorious in the upcoming National Assembly election.

Issuing an appeal on behalf of the ruling coalition partners, the parties stated that the candidates fielded for the upper house election are the common candidates.

"We have formed this political alliance for protection of the Constitution of Nepal and strengthening of the democratic republican system. Attainment of sustainable peace, good governance, development, prosperity and social justice is our common goal," reads the joint appeal.

It further reads: "Political stability is the precondition for the country's progress. The coalition is committed to the consolidation of the democratic, republican system, political stability, durable peace, good governance and prosperity, and will remain sincerely active for the same."

Cautioning against the possibility of various activities toward weakening the coalition in course of the election, the joint appeal states, "This election is also an opportunity to further ensure political stability in the country by making the alliance more organized and stronger. Therefore, it is necessary to firmly stand in support of the coalition. We appeal to all the voters to vote for the coalition candidates and make them victorious with overwhelming votes in the election."

The ruling coalition has fielded Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Champa Devi Karki, Ananda Prasad Dhungana, Puja Chaudhary, Bishnu Devi Pudasaini, Jit Jung Basnet, Shree Krishna Prasad Adhikari and Ghanshyam Rijal for the NA election.

Similarly, Manarupa Sharma, Kiran Babu Shrestha, Padam Bahadur Pariyar, Bishnu Kumari Sapkota, Jhakku Prasad Subedi, Krishna Bahadur Rokaya, Sabitri Malla, Bishnu Bahadur Bishwokarma, Renu Chand, Baldev Bohara and Narayan Datta Bhatt are the candidates on behalf the coalition.

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal, the Janata Samajwadi Party Chair Upendra Yadav, Nagarik Unmukti Party Chairperson Ranjita Shrestha, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Chair Mahantha Thakur and Rastriya Janamorcha Chair Chitra Bahadur KC have signed on the joint appeal.