Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has said Monday’s Cabinet expansion is in violation of the election code of conduct but there is no way the Election Commission can initiate action against the prime minister.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday inducted three ministers and one state minister from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Prajatantrik), making his Council of Ministers the largest ever in the country’s history with 54 members.

Speaking at a programme in the Capital on Wednesday, CEC Yadav said the Cabinet expansion “is in violation of poll code of conduct.” “But the EC can’t take action against the PM.  I can just say the EC’s attention has been drawn to the recent Cabinet expansion,” said CEC Yadav.  

The poll code for the provincial and federal polls has been in place since August 30.

Former chief election commissioner Nil Kantha Upreti told the Post that the election code of conduct should be applicable to all, including the government and the prime minister.