Only 1,213 of 3,406 Candidates Open Bank Accounts for Upcoming Federal Elections, Election Commission Reports

Kathmandu. The Election Commission has stated that out of the 3,406 direct candidates who registered for the House of Representatives election scheduled for this Falgun 21, only 1,213 candidates have opened bank accounts so far.

Out of the 68 parties participating in the election, only nine parties have opened accounts. The parties that have opened accounts as of today include Nepali Congress, Rastriya Janamorcha, CPN (United), Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), Nepal Ka Lagi Nepali Party, Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), United Civil Party, Miteri Party, and Nepal Janata Sanrakshan Party. Assistant Spokesperson for the Commission, Kul Bahadur GC, informed that the provision for opening bank accounts has been made to ensure transparency in the financial assistance received by political parties and candidates in the election, to adhere to the expenditure limits set by election law, and for effective monitoring.

According to the House of Representatives Election Publicity Bank Account (Operation and Management) Procedure, 2082, all political parties registered with the Commission for the election purpose, candidates for proportional representation and the 'First Past the Post' electoral system, and independent candidates are required to conduct all income and expenditure transactions related to election publicity financing through that account as per the procedure. Parties and candidates have opened accounts in accordance with this provision.