Submit your Article

The printing of the ballot papers for the proportional representation (PR) electoral system for the forthcoming House of Representatives (HoR) polls has been completed, the Election Commission (EC) said.  

The EC stated that a total of 20,850,000 ballot papers were printed on Monday at Janak Education Materials Center Limited, Sanothimi, Bhaktapur.

Managing Director of Janak Education Materials Center Limited, Yadunath Paudel, said that printing of the ballot papers for the first past the post electoral system will begin after the completion of the ballot papers for the PR system. 

The Center has already sent almost 1.1 million ballot papers to the EC as samples, which will be used for voter awareness and other related purposes.

The Election Commission (EC) has sought clarifications from the political parties, candidates, government officials and non-government organizations for allegedly breaching the Election Code of Conduct, 2082 BS. 

Assistant Spokesperson of the EC Sita Pun said that the commission had sought clarification from the candidate of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) from Kathmandu District Constituency-4 Dr Surendra Bhandari and from Chief Minister of Koshi Province Hikmat Kumar Karki on January 21. 

Though both were asked to submit responses within three days through correspondence, no reply has been received so far, she stated. 

Bhandari was asked for clarification under Section 4(c) of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082. 

According to this section, it is prohibited to conduct or place election campaign in a way that offends the feelings of senior citizens, women, sexual and gender minorities, and persons with disabilities, or assassinates their character. 

Similarly, Chief Minister Karki of Koshi Province was asked for clarification under Section 5(A) of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082.

The article states the election code of conduct must be abided by the Government of Nepal, provincial governments, ministers and local government authorities and their officials. 

The conduct states that no one should engage in or promote propaganda for and against any political party or candidate. 

On January 22, a letter was sent to candidate of the Rastriya Swatantra Party Jagdish Kharel, requesting him to submit a clear response within three days in accordance with the code of conduct. 

According to the EC's assistant spokesperson, only Kharel has submitted his explanation among eight candidates who were asked for clarification so far. 

Likewise, on the same day, the commission asked the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) for a clear response within two days regarding the organization of the ANFA General Assembly. 

A response to that end has also not been received. 

The Election Commission had also corresponded with the Nepali Communist Party candidate of Jajarkot, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, asking him to submit a clear response within three days. 

Basnet has also not submitted clarification till now. 

The Minister of Industry, Agriculture and Cooperatives of Koshi Province, Israel Mansuri, also corresponded, asking him to submit a clear response within three days. 

The EC had also sought clarification from RSP's candidate from Okhaldhunga-1 Bishwo Raj Pokharel. 

He has also not yet submitted the response, the EC said. 

Printing of ballot papers for the Proportional Representation (PR) system under the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5 has been completed. 

Managing Director at the Janak Education Materials Center, Yadunath Paudel said that the task of printing a total 20, 850, 000 ballot papers for proportional representation has been completed today. 

He also informed that the Center will start printing ballot papers for the first-past-the-post electoral system from today itself.

Officiating Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ram Prasad Bhandari has urged the media to disseminate election-related news and information based on official sources in view of the upcoming House of Representatives elections.

Addressing an orientation on the “Code of Conduct for the Election to the House of Representatives-2082 BS” organized by Public Service Broadcasting Nepal (PSB) here today, he advised media houses to refrain from disseminating false or misleading content during the election period.

He said citizens need fact-based and credible information during elections, and the media bears the responsibility of fulfilling this need. 

Bhandari also stressed the need for a strict implementation of the election code of conduct by the media houses as well.

Expressing concern over the spread of AI-assisted and manipulated content on digital platforms that could harm individuals’ reputations, Bhandari said the Election Commission (EC) was signing agreements with social media platforms such as Meta and TikTok to manage such issues.

EC Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut said it is the responsibility of the media to encourage the implementation of the election code of conduct. He particularly urged State-run media to play a more responsible role in disseminating official and credible news to the public.

Likewise, Secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Laxmi Kumari Basnet, wanted the media to demonstrate their effective role in providing credible information to the citizens to help ensure a successful election.

PSB Chair Dr Mahendra Bista said journalists should adhere to both the election code of conduct, and the journalistic code of conduct during the elections. “Self-censorship is needed in this regard,” he said, calling for the practice of independent journalism.