Less than half of Morang candidates open election bank accounts

KATHMANDU: In Morang, fewer than half of the 110 candidates contesting for the House of Representatives have opened bank accounts for election expenses.

According to the Provincial Election Office in Biratnagar, while 85 candidates received recommendations to open accounts, only 50 had activated them by Saturday, leaving 60 still outside the process.

Chief Controller of Accounts for Morang, Tomnath Upreti, said the Controller’s Office is responsible for monitoring candidates’ financial transactions.

He added that candidates cannot spend on election activities without opening a dedicated bank account and that remaining candidates are being reminded via phone.

Some independent and party candidates have indicated they might not spend on the election, but all have been instructed to activate their accounts by Monday.

Under Section 16 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2073, all candidates are legally required to conduct election-related expenses through a separate bank account.

Expense reports must be submitted to the relevant election office within 35 days of the results announcement.