By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Feb. 15: The Election Commission, Nepal (EC) stated that it would soon reach a decision regarding the petition filed by the warring factions of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) claiming official recognition of the party.
The commission on Sunday stated this while consulting with the political parties on the proposed election code of conduct.
Speaking with the reporters after the meeting, EC Spokesperson Raj Kumar Shrestha said that the commission has been studying the petitions filed by the both factions and the decision would be taken soon on the issue.
“The commission would decide on the petition rather than on the issue of authenticity,” said Shrestha.
The EC has further claimed that it is able to hold the election on the announced dates.
According to Shrestha, the EC has made it clear to the parties that it is able to hold the election on the slated time.
Talking about the code of conduct, Shrestha said the EC had received constructive suggestions from the political parties while some political parties would send written suggestions by Monday.
“The code of conduct will be approved on the basis of the suggestions received from the political parties,” he added.
Shrestha said the meeting focused on the code of conduct that should be followed by the political parties, their sister organisations and candidates.
“The code of conduct has been prepared by revising and managing the shortcomings of the past,” he said.
Leaders of 12 political parties represented in the federal, province and local levels were present at the meeting, the EC said.
He further informed that the party registration process for election would start soon.
However, the Prachanda-Nepal faction of the NCP has asked the EC not to push the electoral process ahead until the issue of the party legitimacy was resolved.
Talking with the reporters after the meeting, leader of Prachanda-Nepal faction Lilamani Pokharel suggested the commission resolving the issue of the party before forwarding the election process ahead.
At the meeting Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya urged political parties to make suggestions on the draft of the Election Code of Conduct, 2077 prepared by the Election Commission.
The political leaders suggested the EC to effectively implement the election code of conduct, make observers and monitoring committee effective and also asked to make election expenses of the political parties transparent.