In its first for the November elections, the Election Commission on Thursday recommended District Police Office, Rautahat to take action against CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairperson Madhav Kumar Nepal, who is also a candidate for the House of Representatives from Rautahat-1, as per Election (Offence and Punishment) Act.

Nepal, during his election campaign on Wednesday, had assured his voters that they would get job opportunities abroad for free. The commission on Thursday morning sought a written clarification from Nepal. However, within hours it recommended the police for the action saying that its investigation found that there was no confusion that the statement was made by him.

In the video, Nepal is seen addressing a mass gathering in his home district and assuring the villagers that they would get job opportunities abroad without paying for airfare and visa process etcetera, for which Nepali youths generally have to pay hundreds of thousands of rupees.

Citing a provision of the Act that bars candidates from being involved in any activities to influence the voters, the Commission has said Nepal’s assurance for the free job had breached the election law. “The district police have the authority for the investigation and file case at the district court,” Guru Wagle, assistant spokesperson at the commission, told the Post. “The commission has made the recommendations; now it is up to the local police to take up the matter.”

Once guilty of election offence, the person is liable to two years of jail term and fine up to Rs 100,000 or both.