Valley
UML reports EC about threats, code violation
The main opposition CPN-UML has drawn the attention of the Election Commission to “increased intimidation” of its leaders and cadres in the Tarai while also complaining about the violation of the election code of conduct by the government.Tika R Pradhan
The main opposition CPN-UML has drawn the attention of the Election Commission to “increased intimidation” of its leaders and cadres in the Tarai while also complaining about the violation of the election code of conduct by the government.
A five-member delegation headed by UML leader Subas Nembang handed over a memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav at the EC on Tuesday in the presence of other commissioners and the secretary.
The party’s standing committee had formed the taskforce led by Nembang on Sunday to monitor the election code. It included Surendra Pandey, Bhanubhakta Dhakal and Agni Kharel.
The panel on Monday decided to submit the memorandum to the EC, raising serious concerns over the acts of intimidating its leaders and cadres in the plains.
“We drew serious concern of the EC to the intimidations our leaders and cadres have faced lately, besides urging the commission to monitor the government’s violation of code by presenting some examples,” Nembang said.
UML leaders said some women had threatened Suman Pyakurel’s family members at his residence in Rajbiraj on Tuesday. They were rescued by the police later. On Sunday, some parties reportedly organised a programme near Rajbiraj, inciting people to intimidate UML leaders and cadres to “rid Madhes of UML”, the delegation reported to the EC.
In a written note, the UML has mentioned that Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi distributed a cheque from the Nepali Congress in Kanchanpur using the Army’s helicopter while the government had disbursed millions of rupees for projects not listed in the fiscal budget.
The second largest party also raised concerns over the transfer of CDOs and security officers even through back-dated decisions. It called for transparent appointment of temporary police personnel and selection of polling stations in consensus among the parties.
CEC Yadav had told the UML team that the home minister had received the EC’s permission to inspect border areas. He pledged to question the minister on
the matter.
On budget, Yadav is learnt to have responded that the EC has already told the finance secretary not to disburse budget except for projects of “national pride” and those under multi-year contracts, while security officers should only be transferred on the basis of “urgency”.