Nepal's green poll campaign

Nc elections in populous countries usually witness a wide environmental footprint, with tens of thousands of vehicles, plastic banners, festoons and flags, and food and water containers adding to the waste burden.

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India has tried to address this periodic wave of trash with mixed results. Neighbouring Nepal, which is transitioning to a newly elected government in March next year after massive youth protests dislodged the KP Sharma Oli government in September, is now implementing its own green election code. The major elements of the code include the use of electric vehicles in place of conventional ones, prioritising digital campaigning, the use of ecofriendly materials for rallies, door-to-door outreach and promotions, and, importantly, a ban on plastic and polythene materials. In an interesting feature, the organisers of election events are required to collect the waste and arrange for its disposal. Making a success of such a sensible code depends on cooperation from political parties, who will field candidates for 275 seats in the H