Ban on electioneering thru social media imminent

The Election Commission (EC) has drafted the code of conduct for the upcoming parliamentary polls banning election campaign on social media and electronic displays, reports UNB.
The Commission incorporated the new provision in the draft code of conduct for political parties and candidates in the national election as a number of political parties demanded the EC contain social media rumour and propaganda joining the Commission's dialogue last year.
According to the section 7(Ka) of the draft code, no candidate, supporter or political party can conduct any campaign on social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Viber.
The same section also says no electronic and display board can be used in the election campaign.
The EC's Committee for Legal Reform, headed by Election Commissioner Kabita Khanam, drafted the code of conduct last week brining some changes to the existing code of conduct of 2008, which was subsequently amended ahead of the 2014 national election.
The committee, at a meeting last week, decided to place the draft code of conduct at the Commission's meeting to get its clearance, said EC officials preferring not to be quoted.