Violations of election code of conduct during election publicity have gone unchecked in Baitadi district.

With the elections for federal parliament and provincial assembly set to take place on Sunday, town centres, village squares and streets are replete with campaign posters, fliers and flag buntings. 

The election code of conduct prohibits producing, distributing, selling or displaying of symbolic materials representing the parties contesting in the polls. 

The political parties in the district have not kept their vow to adhere to the election code of conduct. Meanwhile, the monitoring teams of the Election Commission seem to have failed to take action against those political parties found in violations of the stipulations of the election code of conduct. 

As the election day draws near, publicity campaigns are becoming more extravagant and noisy, particularly in Patan, Ghothalapani Bazaar, Shahilek Bazaar, Satbanjh Bazaar, Dehimandu, Khodpe Bazaar and Khochlek Bazaar.

The political parties have not even spared local schools. Though schools have been declared “zone of peace” to keep off all kinds of political events and activities, the political parties are organising their rallies and assemblies on school premises.

Use of children in election rallies and involvement of government staffers, teachers and journalists in vote canvassing have also gone unnoticed in the eyes of the monitoring teams.