Concerned stakeholders have expressed their worries that the human rights violations might repeat in the upcoming parliamentary and provincial elections as the Election Commission (EC) has not given proper attention to take action.

Saying that the EC had not taken action against those violating the election code of conduct during the local level elections, they said the incidents of election code breach might increase in the upcoming polls.

Human rights activities said that the number of invalid votes would increase exponentially as the voter education programme has not started yet.

During a programme organised by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Nepalgunj on Thursday, Commissioner Sudip Pathak said that all the concerned authorities should pay attention towards conducting elections in a free, fair and fearless manner.

He informed that the NHRC has time and again drawn the attention of concerned authorities over holding the elections in a free, fair and fearless manner.

“The upcoming elections will be more discipline if the Election Commission takes action against those breaching the election code of conduct,” Pathak said.

 “The Election Commission has been active prior to the elections to create conducive environment for the voters to cast their vote in fearless manner,” he added.

Pathak said that the NHRC has drawn the attention of the EC to make the election centre senior citizen, disabled-friendly and women-friendly.

Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) Coordinator Bhola Mahat said that the security challenges are increasing in mountain region.

He said that the possibility of clash in the upcoming elections might increase this time.

Saying that the use of children is continuing unabated in the election campaigns, Mahat said that this trend should be stopped at the earliest.