The Election Commission has urged ministers to refrain from visiting Province 2 unless they need to cast their vote on Monday.

Stressing that the presence of ministers could violate the election code of conduct during the silence period that begins on Friday midnight, the EC decided to request the ministers to refrain from visiting the eight Tarai districts until September 18, the polling day.

“Since the presence of ministers could affect free and fair polls, the EC requests ministers except those who need to exercise their adult franchise not to visit the districts where the polls are being held,” EC Spokesperson Navaraj Dhakal said in a statement on Friday.

The EC has also requested the ministers to visit their home districts without violating the poll code. The poll body has written to the chief district officers of Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Siraha, Mahottari, Dhanusha and Saptari to relay the order.