The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday issued a seven-point directive to the government regarding the implementation of election code of conduct in view of the provincial and parliamentary elections.

The election body on Wednesday issued the code of conduct for the upcoming elections.

The EC this afternoon wrote a letter to the government directing the latter to completely follow and ensure the compliance of election code of conduct.

In the letter, the EC said that it has divulged the “dos and don’ts” for the government regarding the election code of conduct.

The government should not make any political appointment, should bar the government officials from going on any foreign junket, apart from attending the programmes of United Nations and other international organisations, and should take permission from the election body before leaving abroad, the EC said.

The EC has directed the government to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner, according to EC spokesperson Nawaraj Dhakal.

It also urged the government to stop the transfers of government officials.

In its directive, the EC has also banned the addition of budget, transfer of budget from one head to another, and amendment of the programmes.

The EC said that the government can add the budget, transfer the budget and amend the programmes in related to the natural disasters and national pride projects, among others, by taking permission from the EC.

The EC also directed the government to take permission prior to using helicopters by prime minister and ministers.

The EC has said that it has barred ministers from using government vehicles during the electioneering of their respective parties.

The government on Wednesday decided to hold the provincial and federal polls in two phases on November 26 and December 7.

The new decision, which comes 10 days after the government called both the elections together for November 26, is in line with the proposal of the Election Commission, which had all along been calling for holding the two major polls in two phases, saying conducting them together on the same date could be difficult in view of logistics management and weather.

The country must hold elections of provincial assemblies and House of Representatives by January 21 as per the constitutional deadline.