KATHMANDU, Feb 10: With the election to the House of Representatives just around the corner, the Election Commission (EC) has set clear spending limits for candidates to keep campaigns fair and transparent.
The EC has divided the 165 constituencies for direct elections into five categories based on geography, accessibility, facilities, and service networks. Candidates are allowed to spend only within the limits set for their respective areas.
According to EC Assistant Spokesperson Kul Bahadur GC, the maximum campaign spending for candidates ranges from Rs 2.5 million to Rs 3.3 million, depending on the constituency. Urban constituencies in Kathmandu, such as 1, 3, 6, 7, and 8, fall in the category with the lowest ceiling of Rs 2.5 million.
Delay in candidate selection hits parties' poll campaigns
At the other extreme, 26 constituencies—from Taplejung in the east to Baitadi in the far west—allow candidates to spend up to Rs 3.3 million. These include Taplejung-1, Panchthar-1, Sankhuwasabha-1, Solukhumbu-1, Khotang-1, Dolakha-1, Ramechhap-1, Kavrepalanchok-1 and 2, Makwanpur-1 and 2, Gorkha-1, Arghakhanchi-1, Rolpa-1, Pyuthan-1, Dang-1, Bardiya-1 and 2, Salyan-1, Dolpa-1, Humla-1, Jajarkot-1, Bajhang-1, and Baitadi-1.
Meanwhile, 17 constituencies—including Tehrathum-1, Parsa-1, 2, and 3, Rasuwa-1, Kathmandu-2, 4, 5, 9, and 10, Bhaktapur-2, Lalitpur-1, 2, and 3, Manang-1, Kaski-2, and Rukum East-1—have a spending ceiling of Rs 2.7 million.
“Candidates from accessible and urban constituencies can spend up to Rs 2.5 million. Those in medium-access areas can spend Rs 2.7 million. Candidates in intermediate constituencies have a limit of Rs 2.9 million, while those in remote and hard-to-reach areas can spend Rs 3.1 million. For the most remote and underdeveloped constituencies, the limit is Rs 3.3 million,” GC told Republica.
He added that the purpose of setting these limits is to maintain transparency, control unnecessary spending, and curb flashy campaigns. “Many constituencies fall under the Rs 2.9 million category. There are 65 medium-access constituencies, while candidates in 52 remote constituencies can spend up to Rs 3.1 million,” GC said.
For proportional representation elections, the spending limit has been set at Rs 200,000 per candidate for political parties, he added.
-1770648553.webp)
