Election Commissioner Md. Shahnewaz said on Wednesday that the commission would bring all necessary changes in the draft “Code of Conduct” as per the aspiration of political parties to ensure level playing field for them. “Election is the game of political parties, it is their show, they will run it and the commission is a referee here. We are ready to support them as per Constitution. However, if the major political parties reach a point which is not defined by the Constitution, we will be here to work for them,” Shahnewaz said.
“If the political parties reach any consensus regarding election, we will incorporate it in the “Code of Conduct” just to ensure a congenial election atmosphere,” he added.
He was talking to journalists at his office.
“Only one thing we need to do, that is, to cut power and authority of the ministers and members of parliament who will take part in the election and we will do that to ensure free and credible election,” a senior member of the EC told The Independent. He said as per the new amendment to the constitution, the parliament does not need to be dissolved before the next parliamentary election.
According to the sources, the EC is going to amend the Code of Conduct for Parliamentary Elections 2008 and the Conduct of Election Rules 2008 to include some stringent measures in the Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates for the parliamentary elections.
He said: “We have prepared the draft of electoral Code of Conduct for the next national polls so that all political parties can enjoy equal rights as the poll will be held under political government instead of caretaker government.
Responding to a question, the commissioner said the EC would never register any party with a name or symbol as that of others.
-With The Independent input
