The election authorities have intensified their activities in enforcing the election code of conduct in several Tarai districts ahead of the third phase of the local polls slated for September 18. 

The office of Chief Election Officer in Mahottari has mobilised teams to take immediate action against those found to have violated the election code. Three teams have been formed under Local Development Officer Yubaraj Poudel, District Education Officer Thulobabu Dahal and District Forest Officer Rajendra Jayaswal respectively for the purpose.

]According to the election office, the teams have been monitoring the implementation of the poll code since Friday. Chief Election Officer Kiran Kumar Pokharel said publicity materials put up in public places were removed. 

Similarly in Saptari, the election officials and police personnel have enforced the election code of conduct. Stating that wearing T-shirts and caps with a party’s election symbol is the violation of the poll conduct, the security personnel forced party activists to take out such sartorial accessories. 

Police detained 36 Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal activists in Rajbiraj and forced them to remove T-shirts and caps bearing the party’s poll symbol. The election office said five Congress supporters and a CPN-UML cadre were also forced to remove T-shirts and caps with parties’ symbols in Kanchanrup Municipality. 

“The activists of the political parties were found using loudspeakers during their poll campaign in some places. We stopped them from using the speakers which is against the election code of conduct,” said Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar Singh. 

According to Joint Secretary Chhabindra Parajuli, who has been deputed for the monitoring of poll code of conduct in Saptari, the parties are found using posters and banners which are much bigger than the size allowed by the Election Commission.