KATHMANDU, April 27: The Election Commission (EC) has decided to ask the Press Council Nepal (PCN) to monitor the media coverage during the local elections.
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A board meeting of the EC on Wednesday decided to this effect. PCN has monitored media coverage during previous elections as well. "The commission has decided to assign the council to monitor the media," said EC Spokesperson Surya Prasad Sharma. The PCN has been asked to produce preliminary reports within seven days of the conclusion of the first phase of elections and the final report a month after the second phase of elections. The EC has allocated Rs 3,000,000 for the PCN to monitor the media coverage.
The election body had, assigned the Nepal Press Institute to monitor the second Constituent Assembly elections in 2013 due to the sour relations between Election Commissioner Ila Sharma and PCN member Kishor Shrestha, according to a source. Commissioner Sharma and member Shrestha were at odds regarding a news report about Commissioner Sharma. Sharma used to handle the media during the 2013 elections. This time, Commissioner Narendra Dahal has been assigned to handle media affairs.
