The Election Commission has sought explanations from five candidates for allegedly violating the election code of conduct.

The candidates include Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen, contesting from Jhapa-5, Mahesh Basnet from Bhaktapur-2, Hark Sampang from Sunsari-1, and Kamal Bhusal alias Nicolas Bhusal from Rupandehi-2.

Balen was questioned over disrespectful social media comments against fellow candidate KP Sharma Oli. Basnet was asked about referring to Balen as a “puppet” and other remarks. Sampang was questioned for using children in his campaign and making them wear T-shirts, while Bhusal faced scrutiny for promoting the blood-stained shoe that became an icon of the September Gen Z movement as his election symbol.

In addition, Januka Pathak, a candidate from Bhaktapur-2, was asked why she made hateful remarks about another candidate, using terms such as “murderer” and “rapist.”