**Chitwan** – There is a legal provision requiring political parties and candidates participating in the upcoming House of Representatives election, scheduled for Falgun 21, to open separate bank accounts. However, most candidates and political parties in Chitwan have not yet opened such accounts.
According to the District Election Office, Chitwan, only 13 individuals have taken recommendations to open bank accounts as of Friday.
“To make the elections transparent, there is a provision that election expenses must be made through bank accounts. Candidates must open accounts themselves for election purposes,” said Bhimarjun Gyanwali, Election Code of Conduct Monitoring Officer and Chief of the Treasury and Comptroller’s Office. “It doesn’t seem like candidates are paying attention to this matter.”
A total of 65 candidates have filed their nominations across the three constituencies in Chitwan. Candidates can either make expenses themselves through the bank account for election purposes or authorize others to do so. Gyanwali informed that the candidates have also been corresponded with regarding opening the bank accounts. Candidates must disclose the source of their expenses. There is also a provision requiring them to submit the costs incurred for building platforms during election campaigning within 15 days.
On the recommendation of the Election Commission, directives have been issued for each political party, candidates representing those parties (including proportional representation), and independent candidates to open separate bank accounts capable of transacting income and expenses in Nepali currency. Commercial banks, development banks, and finance companies have been instructed to open such accounts.
Only one account can be opened, operating solely in Nepali currency. To open such an account, a recommendation from the Provincial Election Office or District Election Office under the Election Commission is mandatory.
All expenses incurred for election purposes must be made through the bank account. Candidates in Chitwan’s constituencies 1 and 3 can spend up to Rs. 3.1 million, while candidates in constituency 2 can spend up to Rs. 2.9 million. Candidates in Chitwan are currently engaged in door-to-door campaigns and are incurring election expenses, although it does not appear that these expenses are being routed through separate bank accounts.
Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal informed that various bodies have been formed and are monitoring the enforcement of the election code of conduct in Chitwan. He stated that 3,200 employees will be mobilized to conduct the election, including 2,900 civil servants and 250 teachers.
There are 494 polling stations in the district. Chief of the District Police Office, Chitwan, Govind Puri, informed that Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepali Army, and Election Police will be deployed for security there. According to him, security personnel are currently deployed for the security of polling stations, candidates, and voters. “We have already deployed the Nepali Army at the airport and the prison. 2,766 election police are currently undergoing training,” Puri said. “On election day, Nepal Police and Election Police will handle the security inside the polling booths. The Army and Armed Police will be deployed in the outer perimeter.”
The security committee has assessed that out of the 25 polling stations in Chitwan, 25 are highly sensitive, 93 are sensitive, and the remaining are normal.
