Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has asked chief district officers to strictly monitor possible violation of the election code of conduct by ministers.

Addressing an election-related training programme in Dhulikhel on Monday, Yadav said that the huge size of Cabinet makes it more likely for the ministers to violate the code during the upcoming federal and provincial polls.

“Ministers may contest the elections and visit their constituencies,” said CEC Yadav, adding that the CDOs should work independently and monitor the code violation strictly. He urged the CDOs not to support any candidates but to work as the people’s officials.

The Election Commission organised the training programme on management of election materials and financial arrangements for officials to be deployed to hold the federal and provincial elections together on November 26 and December 7.

CEC Yadav told media persons after the programme that the recent Cabinet expansion did not breach the election code. “The government is unstable in Nepal. There are frequent changes in government. The recent Cabinet expansion will have no effect on the holding of free and fair elections,” he said.