The Election Commission has sought clarification from the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal and the Naya Shakti Party Nepal for organising a motorcycle rally in Mahalaxmi Municipality, Lalitpur in violation of the election code of conduct.

The commission issued an order in the name of Janak Thapa, the mayoral candidate of the two parties that have formed an alliance for the local polls.

The EC said in a statement that Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav had, witnessing the violation of code, had tried to stop it. Their joint candidate was found to have taken out a motorcycle rally at 12.30pm on Saturday.

The EC has asked why the candidate should not face maximum penalty for violating the code. “Submit a clarification within 24 hours if there is any reason for the EC not to take action against the candidate,” the EC has asked Thapa. The election code bars candidates from using motorcycles, cycles, rickshaws and carts for rally.

Meanwhile, the election authority made it clear that the code bars conducting voter surveys and predicting results before the polls.

Stating that voters have the legal right to secrecy of who they vote for and why, the 

EC said that conducting a survey on such issues is against the rule.

Stating that an online news site conducted a survey among voters of Kathmandu asking who they would vote for and why, the EC said it has reprimanded the outlet.