The Election Commission (EC) has said that the election silence period for the third phase of local level polls will come into effect from Friday midnight.

The EC is set to conduct the third phase of the local polls in 136 local units of eight districts in Province 2 on September 18.  

Local Level Election Directive, 2073, has banned election campaigning after the commencement of silent period that begins 48 hours prior to the polls in an election.

In a statement released on Thursday, EC spokesman Nawaraj Dhakal has called on the political parties and the concerned stakeholders to refrain from electioneering or canvassing through any medium including social networking sites such as facebook, twitter and viber.

The EC has said the concerned political parties should remove their respective election symbols and promotional materials from within a 300 metre periphery of election centres. The EC has also prohibited usage of caps, stickers, bag, mufflers and other materials that carry parties’ election symbol or directly and symbolically promotes any political parties participating in the polls.

Also the EC has asked media to refrain from publishing news intended at promoting any candidate or political parties.

As per election code of conduct, parties can organise publicity campaigns from 8am to 7pm before the silence period kicks in.