The local election code of conduct is strict, but it’s only limited to paper

On April 28, Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand and State Minister for Health and Population Umesh Shrestha arrived in Chitwan to persuade Nepali Congress leader Jagannath Paudel to withdraw his nomination from the mayor of Bharatpur. The home minister’s request to withdraw his candidacy was not a request; it was a warning.

To pressurise independent candidates to withdraw their nominations during the elections is against the code of conduct set by the Election Commission . But, the commission did not ask for any clarification. Why? Khand and Shrestha allegedly told the commission that they were going to Chitwan for personal reasons.