Only 21 Out of 64 Candidates in Chitwan Have Opened Mandatory Bank Accounts for Elections

Chitwan. Only 21 candidates who filed nominations for the upcoming House of Representatives elections have opened bank accounts. Thirty-nine candidates had taken recommendations to open bank accounts.

According to Bhimsen Karki, the Chief of the District Election Office, there are 64 candidates in the district. He informed that all candidates were contacted via telephone and urged to open accounts. He said, "Some candidates respond by saying, 'We won't spend anything, why should we open an account?'" He also informed that some replied that they are still in the process of opening an account.

According to him, since opening a banking account has been made mandatory for the upcoming elections, candidates and their representatives have visited the office to understand the process and get information about the necessary procedures for recommendations. He said, "They have come to get information about opening a banking account, but many still need to open accounts."

The Election Commission introduced the provision requiring the opening of a banking account to ensure frugality, transparency in the voluntary financial contributions received for election campaigning by political parties and candidates, and the expenses incurred for that campaigning, thereby maintaining good governance in the election.

Similarly, 12 candidates in the district have submitted their manifestos to the Commission. According to Karki, three independent candidates and nine candidates from political parties have submitted their manifestos. The Commission had requested candidates to submit their manifestos to the Commission by Falgun 3.