Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has said that the Election Commission (EC) is concerned to make sure that ‘secret financial dealings’ will be minimised to the possible extent during the elections. Apart from the EC, it requires the support of government bodies, civil society and media to curb on such shady dealings aimed at influencing the elections, Yadav added.

At an interaction programme titled ‘media and election’ organised by Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Yadav said the EC has already alerted the Nepal Rastra Bank, Department of Money Laundering Investigation, Inland Revenue Department, among other government bodies, to remain vigilant about secret financial dealings.

“Election Commission’s aim is to ensure that no secret financial dealing takes place, and the candidates spend the money below the ceiling set by the EC,” said CEC Yadav, “But the EC alone is not capable to control that, and it is not possible. Everyone has to show concern about it.”  He urged the entrepreneurs and industrialists to maintain transparency while donating money to political parties.

Saying the EC has taken seriously the issue of growing challenges to the security situation, Yadav said the commission has requested the government to make reliable arrangement for security. “The EC is assured that the government will make necessary arrangement for security as the Prime Minister himself is looking after the Home Ministry,” he said. He expressed his confidence that the government security will easily beat the security threats and such threats won’t affect the election. He said that the government shouldn’t pay attention to ensure strict enforcement of rule of law during elections.

CEC Yadav said that the EC has made all the necessary preparations for the two phases of elections to federal parliamentary and provincial assemblies. He, however, said there are challenges for holding the elections in mountainous region due to snowy condition as it has been learnt that the people have started descending to safety. “The voting rights of the people should be ensured. We have directed the local administration to make arrangement for such scenarios,” he said. 

He said that the EC has sought clarifications from former prime ministers and ministers regarding the violation of Election Code of Conduct. However, the EC failed to take stern action such as cancellation of candidacies in view of the political transition, Yadav said. 

At the programme, National Human Rights Commission member Govinda Sharma Poudel expressed worry over the growing criminal activities in politics and its impact in elections.