Elected Lawmaker Mahabir Pun Discloses Campaign Finances, Spending Less Than Limit and Pledging Remaining Funds to Public Service

Baglung. Candidates have started submitting their expenditure details to the Election Commission following the House of Representatives election held on Falgun 21. They are making their electoral expenses public through various means. In this sequence, lawmaker Mahabir Pun, elected from Myagdi, has also made his election expenditure public on social media.

While other candidates are publicizing expenditure details running into lakhs of rupees for the election, Mahabir not only spent money but also earned lakhs. Pun made the details public via his social media, Facebook. The Election Commission had set a maximum expenditure limit of 31 lakh rupees for candidates in Myagdi district. Pun spent 231,132 rupees less than the limit set by the commission.

His total election expenditure was 28 lakh 68 thousand 868 rupees. When Pun campaigned in villages and settlements, voters themselves provided financial assistance. He not only spent money in the election but also earned lakhs. According to the data Pun published on social media, a total of 56 lakh 37 thousand 893 rupees was earned from donors both within the country and abroad for the election campaign.

Pun mentioned on social media that the 28 lakh 68 thousand 868 rupees was spent during the 45-day long election campaign, and there is still 27 lakh 69 thousand 25 rupees remaining in the bank account. He stated that the election campaign was expensive and challenging due to geographical remoteness. He claimed that he could have won the election with less money if the district had been easily accessible.

'Myagdi district is not like Jhapa or Kathmandu where all electoral areas can be covered in an hour. It took a full 45 days to campaign in every village by touring twice. If you don't believe it, come and see for yourself,' he wrote on social media.

Pun mentioned that he worked from 7 AM to 10 PM for 45 days with a team of 10 to 16 people, reaching every village in the district up to twice for campaigning. He shared that the remaining nearly 28 lakh rupees, after deducting the expenses incurred during that period, will now be spent in the service of the people. He also mentioned that while visiting villages during the campaign, he committed to setting up a liaison office in Beni to facilitate citizens' problems.

Remaining Amount to be Spent for the People

Pun publicly disclosed that 27 lakh 69 thousand 25 rupees and 47 paisa remains in the Rastriya Banijya Bank account opened for election purposes after spending on the election. He stated that 56 lakh 37 thousand 893 rupees was earned from well-wishers and relatives both inside and outside the country for the election campaign.

Pun stated that the surplus amount after deducting election expenses will be used to open a liaison office in the district headquarters, Beni Bazaar, and to assist the general public coming from villages for government work. He plans to provide services by keeping two employees, a computer, a photocopy machine, and a printer at the liaison office to maintain records.

Pun mentioned on social media: 'This money will be spent to open my liaison office in Beni for 5 years and to provide free general assistance to those coming from villages to the district headquarters for government work and those needing various assistance from different offices. For this, it will be operated by keeping two employees, a computer, a photocopy machine, and printers. I have told everyone this while campaigning in every village. Even if I cannot provide huge help, small assistance will certainly be provided.'