Election Commission Warns Action Against Parties, Candidates Not Using Bank Accounts for Campaign Spending

Kathmandu. The Election Commission has warned that action will be taken against political parties and candidates who do not conduct their election expenses through bank accounts for the House of Representatives election scheduled for Falgun 21. The Commission has warned that parties or candidates who do not open a bank account or, having opened one, do not conduct banking transactions for expenses will be prosecuted under existing regulations for violating the election code of conduct.

Commission Spokesperson Suman Ghimire informed that the Commission has directed political parties to spend only through bank accounts. He stated that violation of the arrangements set by the Commission will result in action according to the election code of conduct. According to him, nine political parties and 1,389 candidates have operationalized bank accounts so far.

The political parties that have operationalized accounts include Nepali Congress, Rastriya Janamorcha, CPN (United), Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), Nepal Ka Lagi Nepali Party, Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), Sanyukta Nagarik Party, Miteri Party, and Nepal Janata Sanrakshan Party.

Major political parties such as CPN (UML), Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), among others, have not yet operationalized bank accounts. The Commission has urged candidates to conduct election expenses only through banking transactions after opening a bank account.

Commission Spokesperson Ghimire informed that there is a mandatory provision to receive amounts exceeding NPR 25,000 only through a bank account. According to Ghimire, Article 16 of the election code of conduct issued for the House of Representatives election clearly stipulates provisions regarding election expenses. According to this provision, candidates must disclose their estimated election expenditure and its source at the time of filing their candidacy.

According to the code of conduct, candidates must open a separate account in a bank to manage election expenses, appoint a separate official to operate the account, and keep records of all amounts received in the account and bills/receipts for all expenditures. He stated that the Commission has made this arrangement to make the election transparent and effective.