As the date for the second phase of federal parliament and provincial assembly elections nears, the Election Commission has found rampant violation of the poll code of conduct mainly with the display of party flags, posters and pamphlets.

A monitoring by the EC found that candidates and political parties are breaching the code of conduct while campaigning. Political parties, according to the EC, have been using banners, flags and posters bigger in size than the permitted parameters. The parties were also found to have placed their promotional materials in public places.

According to the election code of conduct, candidates or political parties cannot use banners or flags larger than three by five feet on vehicles used with permission from the authorities.

Posters larger than three by three feet are not allowed on vehicles used with permission from authorised persons. Supporters cannot carry flags larger than 10 by 18 inches while taking part in a procession or mass meeting. In many districts, parties were found to be using posters on vehicles used without permission from the district election office.

The EC has also intensified on-site monitoring in the districts. Election Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Shah on Thursday inspected compliance of the code of conduct

in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts.

According to the EC, political parties are putting up publicity materials in public places in violation of the code of conduct in Lalitpur. Shah directed the local officials to remove such materials within two days. EC Spokesperson Navaraj Dhakal said they were acting promptly to check violations of the code.

A week before the polls, the election body has decided to deploy additional observers in the 45 districts where polling is taking place in the second phase on December 7. The EC organised an orientation programme for the officials on Thursday.