Mar 14, Kathmandu - In the by-election for the House of Representatives held on Falgun 21, candidates from various political parties in Udaypur submitted their election expense reports to the District Election Office. Notably, Bishnu Bahadur Khatri, who contested from Udaypur-1 under the Nepal Workers and Farmers Party, reported zero expenses.

While other candidates disclosed substantial expenditures on campaign activities, transportation, food, office management, and mobilization of workers, Khatri’s report indicated no spending, according to District Election Office Information Officer Digm Bahadur Karki.

Khatri explained that he submitted a zero-expense report because the party’s manifesto and other promotional materials were obtained from the party’s central office, not personally financed. He stated in the expense report that no individual expenses were incurred.

As of Thursday, ten candidates from both constituencies of Udaypur had submitted their expense reports, out of a total of 31 candidates. 

Among those who filed reports, Pasramani Ghelal, elected from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) with 30,590 votes, reported spending a total of NPR 1,552,111. Ghelal also disclosed income sources, including a contribution of NPR 475,514 and earnings from his private business amounting to NPR 1,076,596. Ghelal is a transportation businessman in Udaypur.

Other candidates’ expenditure reports include Baldev Chaudhary of the Communist Party of Nepal, who spent NPR 998,000; Bidhur Basnet of the Nepali Congress, NPR 2,149,000; and Subhashchandra Khadka of RPP, NPR 502,285.

Additionally, Prashant Rai of the Citizen Sovereignty Party reported expenses of NPR 10,400, while Kadri Bikram Rai of the Mongol National Organization reported NPR 70,000 in spending, according to the Election Office.

From Udaypur-2, UML’s Ambar Bahadur Rayamajhi reported NPR 2,660,700 in expenses, and Keshab Bahadur Magar of the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal reported NPR 110,000. Other parties have contacted the Election Office to submit their expense reports.

Under election laws, each candidate must submit their expenditure report within 35 days of the election to the relevant district election office. Failure to do so can result in a fine of up to NPR 200,000. The Election Act also caps the maximum permissible election expenditure for a candidate in Udaypur at NPR 2.9 million, according to District Election Officer Deepak Dahal.