The Election Commission, Nepal has implemented a system to make bank accounts mandatory for election campaigning to make the House of Representatives elections clean, transparent and economical.
Commission Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut said that bank accounts have been made mandatory to bind political parties and candidates to financial discipline and to make the election code of conduct effective. “All political parties and candidates participating in this time’s House of Representatives elections must mandatorily open bank accounts for election campaigning,” he said.
The Commission has intensified preparations for the upcoming House of Representatives elections and has made public new standards on election expenditure and women’s safety. Secretary Raut said that financial transparency is the first condition for making the elections accountable and credible to the people.
“Section 16 of the Election Code of Conduct 2082 has made provisions for conduct related to election expenditure. Under which, there is a provision that political parties and candidates must open a separate account in a bank or financial institution and spend from that account when making election-related expenses,” he said.
The Commission has approved the ‘House of Representatives Election Campaign Bank Account Operation and Management Procedure, 2082’ and directed all candidates to operate a separate bank account. According to the new arrangement, any financial assistance exceeding Rs 25,000 must be received through a bank.
"In addition, when receiving financial assistance exceeding Rs 25,000, it must be done only through a bank or financial institution, if cash is received as voluntary assistance from a Nepali citizen or an organized organization, the amount must be deposited in the account opened for election campaign with a receipt or invoice, details of expenses and invoices must be kept and submitted to the election offices and the Election Commission within the prescribed format and time," he said.
Receipts have been provided to make voluntary assistance received from Nepali citizens or organized organizations transparent. According to Secretary Raut, details of expenses and invoices must be submitted to the Commission within the prescribed time as specified in Section 16 of the Election Code of Conduct.
To ensure women's meaningful participation in the electoral process, the commission has called for a shared commitment to reduce violence, fear, and intimidation against women candidates and voters. Secretary Raut said that since elections are not just a means of selecting people's representatives but are a fundamental pillar of democracy, cooperation among political parties is indispensable to make them free and fair.
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