Most candidates have ignored the Election Commission's efforts to make election spending economical and transparent. Although the commission has instructed candidates to open new accounts for fundraising and expenditure purposes, only 671 out of 3,406 candidates have opened accounts.

This issue is also covered in the election code of conduct. Political parties had reached the commission and candidates had pledged to fully comply with the election code of conduct during their nominations. But as of Monday, the commission has stated that only 21 percent of candidates had opened new accounts for election purposes. 

Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said that they have been repeatedly urging political parties and candidates to open new accounts for election purposes. ‘There are 68 political parties and 3,406 independent candidates,’ he said, ‘but only 671 candidates have opened accounts so far to spend the necessary amount for election campaigning. We have also asked bankers to facilitate opening accounts. Not all candidates have opened accounts yet.’ 

The commission has directed candidates to open new accounts for the first time this time to make election expenses transparent and to keep accounts from a single account. Earlier, candidates were conducting transactions from old accounts in use. The Commission has said that candidates should not spend their election-related expenses through any means other than banks or financial institutions. 

The Commission has directed that when receiving financial assistance of more than 25 thousand rupees, they should take it from a separate account in banks and financial institutions. It is mentioned that if the Commission demands, the original bill of expenses should be submitted and the bank account details should be submitted. There is a provision in the code of conduct that while spending on election campaigning, one should spend it only through oneself or one's election representative and not spend more than the election expenditure limit set by the Commission.

There is a legal provision that the concerned party must submit the income and expenditure details from election campaigning to the Commission and the candidate to the district or provincial election office within 35 days of the date of announcement of the election results. 

The Election Commission has set a minimum expenditure limit of 25 lakhs to a maximum of 3.3 million rupees for candidates for the House of Representatives elections. 

Parties and candidates have been seen indifferent to following the existing law, the election code of conduct and the election campaigning methods and election expenditure 'ceiling' set by the Election Commission. However, the commission has not taken any action against any candidate for excessive expenditure. The criteria set by the code of conduct have been found to have been violated by the candidates in their door-to-door visits, use of vehicles exceeding the prescribed limit, meetings, conferences, and campaign materials. Road shows have been held before the campaign period has begun. Corner meetings have been held. While the commission has set a total of 15 days for campaigning only from February 4.

UML leader Pradeep Gyawali, the candidate from Gulmi-1, says that the commission's efforts to make election expenditure economical and transparent are commendable. However, he mentioned that the election expenditure ceiling is not appropriate for the time being and is not in accordance with the geographical conditions, which has led to a tendency to hide expenses. 'Personally, so far, work has been going on without any expenditure, now that the campaign period has begun, there will be some expenditure,' he told Kantipur. 'I have opened a new account as per the commission's instructions. I have requested my friends to help me in that. I will spend the election expenses from that account.' But he said that opening a new account is not practical for all sectors. He mentioned that attention should be paid to the country's financial accessibility.

According to Commission spokesperson Bhattarai, some candidates have raised questions about why they should open a new account since they do not have money. 'There have been some such complaints, but the Commission has asked them to adopt transparency by opening an account and using it to generate income and expenses,' he said.

UML's Election Department Chief Neeraj Acharya said that all candidates have been asked to open a new account and conduct election transactions. 'We have learned that many have already opened it, some may be in the process of opening it,' he said, 'We are committed to following and implementing the standards and code of conduct set by the Commission.' So far, the Commission has not been able to provide information about which candidates have opened accounts or how many from which parties have opened accounts, and how much is left.

Congress General Secretary Pradeep Poudel also said that the 'ceiling' of expenses set by the Commission is inconsistent. However, he mentioned that they are trying to spend minimum. 'I have opened a new account for election purposes. I have asked well-wishers to send their support there,' he said, 'I am trying to carry out the election program and expenses within the scope and rules and regulations set by the commission.'

Congress spokesperson Devraj Chalise said that instructions have been sent to the lower levels to follow the code of conduct and open accounts as instructed by the commission and spend through them. 'Some may have opened them, since the campaign program started from Monday, many friends may be opening accounts,' he told Kantipur, 'We have also asked them to spend them economically within the ceiling set by the commission.'

He said that the Congress is in favor of the reform efforts made by the commission to make expenses transparent and economical. 'The entire party is ready to help so that the irregularities in the election are removed and even those who do not have money can become candidates,' he said.

NCP leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, candidate for Sarlahi-3, said that he has asked well-wishers to open accounts as instructed by the commission and send support through them. ‘I have not incurred any expenses so far. My friends, workers and voters have taken care of the expenses, I am going door to door in the constituency,’ he said, ‘Now there will be some expenses, for that I have made a clear declaration that I will not accept donations from big capitalists. I am committed to spending the support received from friends and well-wishers in a systematic and transparent manner.’ 

Madhav Sapkota, the NCP candidate from Sindhupalchowk-1, also said that he has opened a new account for election purposes and asked his friends to donate to it. ‘To reduce expenses, I am going door to door in a small group, staying with workers or friends, and eating there,’ he said, ‘I am trying to reach the people with issues rather than expensive or flamboyant propaganda.’

A study has shown that 57 percent of candidates in the 2074 House of Representatives election spent more than the prescribed spending limit. A study conducted by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) has shown this. Similarly, a study conducted by the Election Supervision Committee, which has been involved in the supervision of elections every year, has shown that the average expenditure of the winning candidate in the 2074 House of Representatives election was 20 million 13 million. The average expenditure of the runner-up was 10 million 49 million. The study states that candidates who spend more money in the election are more likely to win. Some candidates themselves have publicly admitted that they had to spend a large amount of money in the past.

The Commission has set a limit on the expenditure of candidates in the House of Representatives election scheduled for 21 Falgun. The Commission has set different expenditure limits for accessible and remote districts. The expenditure limit has been set at 25, 27, 29, 31 and 33 lakhs according to the constituency. The Commission has also made it strict in the code of conduct for campaigning so that the expenditure is low and within the prescribed limit.

It is said that a candidate can use only a maximum of 2 vehicles with the permission of the election officer. It is mentioned that a maximum of 4 horses can be used in places where vehicles are not allowed. The distribution of T-shirts and caps has been banned. There are also controls on posters and pamphlets. Only a certain size and number of banners can be displayed. The commission has asked to open a new account to make the expenses transparent and systematic. However, there is no provision in the law for what action will be taken if the account is not opened. 

RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden, who has filed his candidacy from Jhapa-3, has not yet opened a new account for election purposes. ‘It is not easy to open an account, my PAN card is in Kathmandu, I am in Jhapa. It is difficult because I also have to submit the citizenship of my wife and children,’ he said. ‘It has become a crime to join a political party. However, I will open an account in the near future. After becoming a political party, I have to follow the commission’s instructions.’ He said that other party members have also opened accounts and are in some process.

RPP Deputy Chairman Kathmandu-9 candidate DP Aryal has also not opened a new account. He has previously used the account he used when he was a proportional candidate. ‘I have submitted the details of that account to the election office,’ he said, ‘All party members have been instructed to open accounts and provide information about it to the office of the election officer.’ He mentioned that all candidates will be required to open accounts to comply with the parameters and limits set by the Election Commission. 

His secretariat has stated that the account details of Balen Shah, the proposed prime ministerial candidate from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and candidate from Jhapa-5, have been submitted to the election office. However, his press advisor Surendra Bajgain said that no transaction has been made from it so far. ‘There has been no donation or expenditure transaction from there,’ he said, ‘The necessary details will be submitted to the election office.’