Kathmandu, 15 December (H.S.):

Nepal's Election Commission introduced stringent new provisions to the Public Election Code of Conduct 2082 on Monday, requiring all election-related income and expenditure to be channeled exclusively through banks or financial institutions for the upcoming House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5.

Candidates and political parties must maintain detailed receipts and bills for every transaction to ensure complete transparency in funding sources.Under the updated guidelines, aspirants submitting nominations must disclose estimated campaign expenses along with their funding origins. They are obligated to open dedicated bank accounts solely for electoral spending, managed by a designated responsible officer whose details must be notified to district election offices.

Political parties face identical requirements, appointing an accountable official to oversee expenditures from a separate party bank account. Financial aid exceeding NPR 25,000 must be received via banking channels, with cash donations promptly deposited and receipted.

All income-expenditure records, including original bills, must be preserved and submitted in the Commission's prescribed format post-election.The reforms aim to curb black money and enhance accountability, with mandatory public disclosure of spending details within legally stipulated timelines following polls.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar