KATHMANDU, April 4 – The Election Commission (EC) has decided to disqualify 280 candidates after finding their candidatures not meeting requirements under existing election law, and has also announced action against four candidates for

violating the election code of conduct.

According to EC Commissioner Nil Kantha Upreti, the EC decided to reject some candidates as they were found underage (below 25) and some others as they had filed nominations both under the proportional and

first-past-the-post electoral systems.

Similarly, some other disqualified candidates were found to have filed nominations under more than one party while yet others were declared ineligible as they did not furnish their citizenship papers before the EC by the Wednesday deadline, according to Upreti.

In an interview to Kantipur Television, EC commissioner Upreti said that the EC would make an announcement in this connection on Friday.

Upreti further said EC has also begun taking action against those found breaching the election code of conduct. It has already sought clarifications from four candidates for obstructing the campaigning of other political parties, according to Upreti.

According to EC sources, the candidates who have been asked clarifications are Govinda Raj Joshi (NC, Tanahun), Tara Narayan Shrestha (CPN-M, Ramechhap), Prem Tamang (CPN-M, Rasuwa) and Kanchha Ram Tamang (CPN-U, Kavre).

They have been asked to explain within 24 hours why the EC should not take action against them.

The source said that Joshi has been accused of carrying weapons while electioneering, while Shrestha and Tamang have been accused of attacking CPN-UML candidate Dev Shankar Poudel and NC candidate Bal Chandra Poudel respectively. Similarly, the EC has sought clarifications from Kanchha Ram Tamang, accusing him of attacking PFN candidate Kaman Singh Lama.

The EC has announced that the election in Bhojpur-2 would be held on April 10 as RPP did not file nomination in place of its candidate Parsu Ram Rai who passed away early this week. Earlier, EC had rescheduled

election in that constituency for April 17, following Rai’s sudden death.

Meanwhile, reviewing a previous decision, the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday announced that it has increased the amount of insurance cover for all officials deputed to different parts of the country for conducting the upcoming CA poll.

According to the EC, all officials deployed for the election are entitled to accident insurance of Rs 1.5 million, up Rs 1 million from what was decided earlier.

Similarly, the EC has issued directives to all election officers to take the initiative toward departmental action against government employees who dilly dally over assuming the responsibilities assigned to them. The EC has also directed all election officers to suspend and initiate further action against such persons as per the Election Commission Act-2063.

(Source: eKantipur)