Apr 2, 2017- Energy Minister Janardan Sharma has flouted the election code of conduct by attending a programme of his party in Gorkha district.
Minister Sharma appeared at the Gorkha municipal committee convention of the CPN (Maoist Centre) in the district headquarters on Saturday. Though he attended his party’s programme as the chief guest, Sharma did not inaugurate the function. The party coordinator for Province 4, Hari Adhikari, inaugurated the event.
Minister Sharma reached the district headquarters using his official vehicle. The Maoist Centre took out motorcycle and car rallies from Aanbu Khaireni to Gorkha to welcome him. After attending a meeting of the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project at Gorkha Bazaar, the minister reached the programme venue using the vehicle of a party activist. At the programme organised in Ranipokhari, Minister Sharma addressed party cadres.
Sources claimed that the minister ignored Chief District Officer Jitendra Basnet’s request not to attend the programme. Sharma claimed that he had reached the district for the meeting of the power project. “It is common to take part in a party programme during the visit to a district,” he added.
An officer at the Election Commission told the Post that a minister taking part in a programme organised by his party violates the election code. Doing a governmental duty in the district is permitted but taking part in a programme organised by a party clearly violates the election code, said the officer.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
