Election Commission directs Election Commission to make public election expenditure details within 35 days

Kathmandu. The Election Commission (EC) has asked the candidates for the House of Representatives election expenses to make public their election expenditure details.

According to Article 72 (5) (50) of the House of Representatives Election Act, 2074 BS, the candidates towards the first-past-the-post election system and the political parties under the proportional representation system should make public the details of the expenditure they have made in the election publicity in the election to the House of Representatives held on March 4.

In the case of first-past-the-post election, the candidates have to make public the details of income and expenditure incurred in the election campaign in the prescribed format before the Election Commission.

As per the law, the political parties, candidates or their representatives are required to submit their election expenditure details within thirty-five days of the announcement of election results and make public the expenditure details as prescribed by the EC for information to the concerned stakeholders as per Clause 31 (sub-section (20) of the Election (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2073.

According to EC Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, the political parties and candidates should make public the details of expenditure incurred in the election publicity campaign within the stipulated time. The political parties should inform the Election Commission and the candidates to the State and District Election Office of the respective districts within 35 days from the date of holding of the election.

The EC has been taking action against the concerned parties and candidates as per Clause 31 of the Election (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2073 BS for not submitting the details of election expenses or not making them public.