Swing Into Action

IN its pursuit of holding the constituent assembly polls as per the schedule agreed upon and mentioned in the interim statute, the Election Commission has gone ahead with making the necessary preparations for the democratic franchise aimed at framing a new constitution for the country. Right after the enactment of the law relating to an election court, the Election Commission has published the schedule for the first past the post system as well as the proportional election system which indicates the efficiency and effectiveness of the constitutional body in carrying out its constitutional duty. According to the schedule disclosed by the commission, candidates seeking to contest for the 240 seats in the first past the post system should file nominations at the respective district education offices by the first week of October while the political parties are required to submit the list of their candidates to the commission for the proportional polls during the second week of October. The commission has, thus, set the timetable for the polls to ensure that the process for holding the polls is not delayed and for the political actors to swing into action accordingly.

What makes sense to note in this context has been the finalisation of the code of conduct for the polls, laying down obligations to be adhered to by the political parties and candidates. The code has been comprehensive enough to cover several aspects of poll ethics and mentions that the parties or candidates failing to obey the provisions are liable to face legal consequences. The commission reserves the right to invalidate and countermand the polling process, should there be serious cases of violation or breach of the obligations enshrined in the code. The prohibition on posters and wall paintings is very relevant as the political parties and candidates are found engaged in defacing and disfiguring public walls and compounds with slogans and campaign messages during the elections. Moreover, the code has fixed a ceiling on expenses involved in the poll campaign. However, it is not very much different from conventional practices. What is important in this context is the determination to enforce the provision so that money and muscle power are not flexed during the polls. Finally, congratulation to the Election Commission for its drive and zeal for carrying out its constitutional mandate, and it is high time the political parties reciprocated the spirit of the constitutional body responsible for conducting the polls.

Source: The Rising Nepal, August 22, 2007