Former Chief Election Commissioner Bhojraj Pokharel has said that efforts to maintain election transparency are not sufficient. Analyzing the current election system, increasing expenses and the need for reform, he noted that spending through ‘windows’ is challenging the system itself. He said that the code of conduct should be strictly followed to make the election fair, and said that unearthing the transactions made through internal collusion between two individuals, parties and candidates has become a big challenge for the national capacity.

Parties are spending opaquely in the election again

The Election Commission has made provisions for candidates to provide asset details, self-declaration and spending through bank accounts for financial transparency. However, former Chief Commissioner Pokharel said that it is becoming more difficult to control ‘expenditure through windows rather than through doors’. He said that despite efforts to channel transactions through bank accounts, out-of-pocket expenses and the use of black money have led to unrest. Former Chief Commissioner Pokharel said that the trend of winning and coming to power in the current election has increased, saying that the spending limit of Rs 3.3 million set by the Election Commission is being violated. He said that the candidates are spending many times more than the limit set, and said, "The gap between those who can spend and those who cannot has made the competition unequal. To improve this, we should go for a model where the state bears the election expenses." He said that more than 130 countries in the world are practicing this practice, and Nepal should also choose this path for equal competition.