Miscellaneous
Incidents of violence a cause for concern: EC
A spate of violence in different districts, particularly after the final list of candidates for the first phase of elections were announced, has emerged as a major cause for concern, the Election Commission said on Wednesday.A spate of violence in different districts, particularly after the final list of candidates for the first phase of elections were announced, has emerged as a major cause for concern, the Election Commission said on Wednesday.
During an interaction with senior leaders of various political parties, including Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav said that as many as 11 incidents of political confrontations have been reported from eights districts over the last week.
“One person has died and 23 people have been injured in clashes between political party members,” said Yadav, adding that such incidents of violence and clashes could disrupt polls.
According to Yadav, incidents of clashes, fires and vandalism were reported in Kathmandu, Nuwakot, Dolakha, Nawalparasi, Gulmi, Dolakha, Syangjya, Dhading and Rukum among other districts.
CPN-UML member Kul Bahadur Tamang, son of Gore Tamang, ward member candidate from the UML in Dolakha, died on Tuesday evening in a clash between UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) activists.
Senior UML leader Subas Nembang said that some of the Maoist candidates who were implicated in the FIR were released by police. Leaders of other political parties also expressed their concern over rising incidents of violence. Naya Shakti Nepal coordinator Baburam Bhattarai alleged that cadres of the ruling parties were attacking opposition party members in a planned manner. He also objected to an attack by Maoist Centre cadres on Naya Shakti Nepal members at Laxmibazaar area of Gorkha. He accused PM Dahal of issuing an order to release the Maoist cadres who were detained by police.
Nepali Congress leader and Minster for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Ramesh Lekhak said vehicles used by his party candidates were vandalized in Dhading, Kaski and Nuwakot. Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal leader Rajendra Shrestha complained that his party candidate for the post of ward chairperson in Nagarjun municipality was abducted.
PM Dahal was not far behind in registering his complaint. He told the EC officials that a vehicle used by Maoist Centre was vandalized in Chitwan. He, however, said that the government would look into all the incidents of violence and initiate action against the guilty.
Parties vow to abide by election code
Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and senior leaders of other political parties on Wednesday signed a commitment paper to strictly follow the election code of conduct.
The commitment paper that the leaders signed at the Election Commission headquarters reads: “We will make efforts to ensure that the provisions of the election code of conduct are strictly followed.”
The EC had sought political parties’ commitment to the election code of conduct after an interaction during which issues related to violation of poll code and a spate of violence involving political parties were discussed. (PR)