Kathmandu. Out of 3,406 first-past-the-post candidates who filed their candidacies for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 4, only 1,986 candidates have opened bank accounts, according to the Election Commission.

With only two days left for the polling day, one-third of the candidates are yet to open their accounts. Of the 65 political parties that took part in the elections, only 11 have opened their accounts.

The Nepali Congress, Rastriya Janamorcha, CPN (United), Nepali Communist Party (NCP), Nepal Nepali Party, Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), Samyukta Nagarik Party, Miteri Party, Nepal Janata Protection Party, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and Rastriya Janamukti Party are among the political parties that have opened their account so far.

Provision has been made for the opening of bank accounts for transparency in the financial assistance received by political parties and candidates during the elections, and for the adherence to the expenditure limit set by the election law and for effective monitoring.

According to the House of Representatives Election Publicity Bank Account (Operation and Management) Procedure-2082, all the political parties, candidates and independent candidates who have registered their candidacies for the proportional representation and first-past-the-post election system registered at the Election Commission for the purpose of participating in the election to the members of the House of Representatives, 2082 will be traded from the same account. According to this provision, the parties and candidates have opened their accounts.