EC seeks clarification from Minister Chaudhary

Kathmandu, Oct. 16

The Election Commission (EC) has sought a clarification from the Minister for Urban Development, Metmani Chaudhary telling him his act to distribute relief to the flood victims had violated the election code of conduct.

Stating that the its attention has been drawn to the news published in Nepalpress titled ‘Minister Chaudhary in controversy after distributing rice, claims the support was given to the local bodies not people’, the election body has directed the minister to furnish a clarification within 24 hours.

The EC cited the Article 4 (T) of the Election Code of Conduct 2022 that maintains no work should be performed to impact the fairness and impartiality of the election, and asked Minister Chaudhary what evidences does he have to prove that his act of relief distribution in the name of flood victims in his election constituency was not against the code of conduct.

It also asked whether the leader had obtained approval from the EC to distribute rice to the people of his constituency, and if the programme was included in the annual programme of the government. Likewise, the EC also wanted to know that since there was district administration office if there was a need to distribute the relief materials why did the minister himself went to perform the act, and if there was a legal obligation that required the presence of the minister at the programme.

Meanwhile, the EC has asked the government, semi-government agencies, public organisations, universities, schools, and companies with full or partial government ownership or the organisations that receive government grants to approve the resignation tendered by their employees from the very day of the submission of the resignation letters.

It has also decided to write to the Prime Minister’s Office to implement the directive and facilitate in the process.

Meanwhile, in another notice, the EC had decided to remove the names of those candidates – who were the candidates in the local level elections held earlier this year and are now in the closed list of the candidates for proportional representation category of election – from the PR list if they did not submit the election expenditure details with fines by October 22.

However, those submitting the details and due fines can continue with their candidacy, said the EC. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 October 2022.