Remote Districts Outpace Kathmandu in Compliance with Election-Specific Bank Account Rule

With just 15 days remaining until the March 5 elections, candidates in remote districts have demonstrated full compliance with the Election Commission's mandatory bank account provision, while those in accessible districts—including the capital—lag behind.

According to the Election Commission, while 671 candidates have opened designated bank accounts for election expenditure nationwide, the disparity in compliance between remote and accessible districts has become a notable trend.

Election Commission Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut revealed that in remote districts like Kalikot, every candidate has already opened the mandatory bank account. "All candidates in Kalikot, despite its geographical challenges, have complied with the provision. However, most candidates in accessible districts have yet to open accounts," he said.

The contrast is starkest in the federal capital itself. Election Officer Thakur Prasad Bhattarai on Tuesday reported that out of 250 candidates who filed nominations across Kathmandu's 10 constituencies, only 120—less than half—have opened election-specific accounts so far.

The Election Commission has made it compulsory for all election-related expenses to be processed through the banking system, a departure from previous elections where such provisions were not enforced. EC Spokesperson and Joint Secretary Narayan Prasad Bhattarai confirmed that information on account openings has been entered into the Commission's system.

The Commission believes that channeling expenses through the banking system will ensure transparency and financial discipline. Expenditure limits have been set ranging from Rs 2.5 million to Rs 3.3 million per candidate, depending on the geographical region.

Despite the election code of conduct clearly mandating bank accounts for transactions exceeding Rs 25,000, compliance in urban and accessible areas remains poor. On Sunday, the Commission issued another notice reminding candidates that any financial contribution or expenditure above Rs 25,000 must be processed through a separate election-specific bank account.

Spokesperson Bhattarai further warned that candidates must submit original bills, receipts, and bank account details to the Commission if ordered to do so.

Nepal Rastra Bank reports that bank and financial institution branches are now available in all 753 local levels across the country, facilitating the new requirement. On Monday, the Commission held discussions with chief executive officers of banks and financial institutions to ensure smooth implementation.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari emphasized during the meeting that the banking channel would bring transparency to election spending. He informed them that a separate guideline has been prepared to ensure that cash transactions are no longer permitted for campaign expenses. – With inputs from RSS