Nepal poll panel chief concerned with poll-related violence

Kathmandu, Mar 20 : Nepal Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Bhojraj Pokharel on Thursday expressed sadness over the growing cases of poll-related violence across the country.

"The EC urges all the parties and the candidates to peacefully hold their programs and campaigning and refrain from any kind of violence and fully abide by the election code of conduct," Pokharel told reporters.

"Thousands of national and international observers are keeping a close watch on the whole of our election process. If EC's requests for abiding by the code of conduct is not followed, the EC can take stringent actions including imposing fine, cancelling candidacy or annulling the voting in booths from where any forceful actions are reported," nepalnews.com quoted, him as saying.

Pokharel further said that he had held meeting with leaders of three parties Nepali Congress, UML and Maoists to discuss about the violation of code of conduct.

He also met with chiefs of security bodies and directed them to strengthen security for candidates as well as employees mobilised for conducting the election.

ANI