Nepal’s path to March 5 elections is bumpy, with the Election Observation Committee (NEOC) raging against the Election Commission’s soft touch on code violations. A monthly report reveals a pattern of complaints met with mere queries, prompting threats of Supreme Court appeals.
Launched January 19 post-consultations, the code sought to level the playing field. But 35 days on, hundreds of grievances led to just 79 clarification letters—nine doubles for serial violators—with zero enforcement.
The Kathmandu Post highlighted repeat offender Ashika Tamang of Dhading-1’s Rashtriya Swatantra Party, nailed for school events and student involvement. Her two defenses flopped, but the EC issued no sanctions.
‘Breaches are morphing into social media threats, more insidious than before,’ NEOC’s Gopal Krishna Siwakoti asserted, pushing for pre-poll crackdowns. Krishna Subedi reinforced: no more delays; court looms if duties are dodged.
Amid buzzing campaigns, this EC-NEOC clash tests Nepal’s commitment to clean votes. Observers demand action to restore faith, warning that judicial oversight might be the only fix left.