Candidates who haven’t disclosed their expenses losing opportunity for clarification, EC keeps reminding them

Published On: August 22, 2022 06:30 PM NPT By: Khagendra Adhikari

TAPLEJUNG, August 22: There are indications that the majority of Taplejung candidates in the local level elections who did not submit their expenses details will miss the opportunity to explain within the 7-day clarification deadline given by the Election Commission (EC). As only a relatively small number of candidates appeared with explanations and justifications, the District Election Office requested them not to miss this opportunity.

According to District Election Officer Dinesh Khanal, 229 candidates in the local elections held on May 13 have not submitted their election expenditure details. This is the number of candidates for the district coordination committee, municipalities and rural municipalities.

For the time being, the Commission has set a deadline for clarification for the candidates of the local elections only who are yet to submit their election expenses details. According to the District Election Office, it seems that 156 people are yet to submit their expenditure details. The Election Commission had given a deadline of 7 days to those who did not submit the statement of expenses within the specified time to submit an explanation of justification for not being able to submit the statement of expenses.

That deadline expires on Tuesday (tomorrow). According to District Election Officer Khanal, 27 people have submitted their explanations till Monday noon. "Some numbers of clear cases are continuing, but not all of them (156 people) who have to submit an explanation with a clean bill in the first stage," District Election Officer Khanal said to those who are yet to submit their expenditure details, "This is a good opportunity, we should still make use of this opportunity."

Regarding the expenditure statement, the District Election Office has requested that the commission is committed to the implementation of the Election Commission Act and hence, not neglect the task of submitting the details of election expenses as it has been presented. According to Section 25 of the Election Commission Act 2073, political parties or candidates must submit their expenses statement to the office designated by the commission along with the bill of expenses incurred in the election within 30 days from the date of the announcement of the final result of the election.

There is a provision that the person must present himself and submit an explanation with justification. The District Election Office requested the leaders and representatives of the parties who have become candidates for an environment where those who have not submitted the details of election expenses should be notified. District Election Officer Khanal informed republica that the names of the party candidates who did not disclose their expenditure details were also made available to the representatives of the same parties.

The commission has also published the list of those who have not submitted their expenditure details through its website. During the local level elections held on May 13, there was a provision that the candidates for the post of metropolitan city mayor and deputy mayor could spend a maximum of Rs 750,000. Similarly, candidates for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor of sub-metropolitan cities could spend up to Rs 500,000.

Likewise, the candidates for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor of municipalities were allowed to spend a maximum of Rs 450,000 and the candidates for the posts of chairperson and vice-chairperson of rural municipalities were allowed to spend up to Rs 350,000. The head and deputy head of the district coordination committees could spend up to Rs 50,000. Candidates for ward chair could spend up to Rs 300,000 in metropolitan cities, Rs 250,000 in sub-metropolitan cities, Rs 200,000 in municipalities and Rs 150,000 in rural municipalities.

Similarly, a ward member in a metropolitan city could spend up to Rs 300,000, a member in a sub-metropolitan city Rs 2,50,000, a member in a municipality Rs 200,000, and a member in a rural municipality could spend up to Rs 150,000. District coordination committee members were limited to Rs 25,000 for election expenses.