Fear-free voting environment yet to be ensured: UML

KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML has said that it is closely monitoring the security situation ahead of the upcoming House of Representatives elections.

Issuing a statement on Wednesday, UML’s Press Coordinator for the House of Representatives Election, Min Bahadur Shahi, said that an environment in which voters can cast their ballots freely, without intimidation, has not yet been ensured. “A conducive environment where people can vote freely and without fear has still not been created. It is the government’s primary responsibility to ensure that every eligible Nepali citizen can exercise the right to vote independently, fearlessly, and without intimidation,” Shahi said in the statement. “Every voter has a constitutional right to equal and easy access to the ballot box and to cast their vote in a safe environment. However, to date, the government has failed to create a reliable and trustworthy environment and has not shown sufficient seriousness in this regard.”

Stating that prisoners, who escaped from various jails and correctional centres across the country, are still at large, Shahi said the government had not taken election security seriously.

The UML also expressed serious concern over the misuse of social media for election campaigning. “Attempts are being made to create confusion through artists and to attack candidates and party leadership,” he added.

UML has strongly condemned abusive language and indecent remarks targeting its chairperson and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli.