Twelve out of 17 candidates running for the House of Representatives election in Dhankuta are reluctant to open a separate bank account, which is mandatory for election purposes.

The Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee has shown concern after a separate bank account for election purposes was not opened as mentioned in the election code of conduct.

According to the District Election Office, out of the 17 candidates who filed their candidacies from parties and independents, only 5 candidates from political parties have so far taken recommendations to open bank accounts for election purposes.

The Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee has stated that the remaining 12 candidates, including parties and independents, are delaying opening separate bank accounts. So far, only candidates from Congress, UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Aam Janata Party have taken recommendations from the Election Office to operate separate accounts for election purposes, informed District Election Officer Madhav Kumar Adhikari.

The Election Commission has made arrangements to mandatorily open a new bank account for election purposes to make all income and expenses of candidates transparent. The Adhikari said that there is a provision that all financial transactions related to the election should be made only from that account.

The Election Office has stated that all candidates have been asked to make a new account mandatory as the separate account will make the expenses transparent and the expenditure limit set by the Commission will not be violated.

Candidates who do not open a separate account and do not make the details of their expenses public will be asked for an explanation regarding the violation of the code of conduct, and will be fined up to one lakh rupees or their candidacy will be cancelled, he said.