KATHMANDU: Amid widespread media reports claiming that more than a thousand candidates who contested the 2022 elections have been blacklisted and barred from future polls for failing to submit election expense details, the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) has clarified that no such decision has been made.
The reports named several prominent politicians, including Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa and Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Sobita Gautam, alleging they had failed to submit expense statements and were therefore ineligible for future elections.
However, when Khabarhub contacted the Election Commission for clarification, the commission rejected claims of blacklisting or disqualification. ECN Assistant Spokesperson Sita Pun Shrestha said the commission has not taken any decision to blacklist candidates or bar them from future elections.
“We have also seen such news reports in various media. There is indeed a legal provision requiring candidates to submit income and expenditure details after participating in an election. But we have not made any decision to blacklist them or declare them ineligible for future elections,” she said.
Shrestha expressed surprise over reports claiming decisions that the commission has not made. She said the matter is still under discussion within the commission and an official position will be made public soon.
According to the Federal Election Offences and Punishment Act, 2073 BS, political parties and candidates who fail to submit income and expenditure details are subject to fines. Referring to Clause 31 (2) of the Act, Shrestha said political parties and candidates are required to publicly submit their income and expense details in the manner specified by the commission.
If such details are not submitted, Sub-clause (3) of the same provision allows the commission to impose fines in accordance with prevailing federal laws related to elections.
“We have already fixed fines and requested the concerned candidates to pay them as soon as possible. Apart from this, no decision has been made regarding any other form of punishment,” she said.
While the Election Commission Act includes a provision allowing the commission to bar political parties or candidates from contesting elections for up to six years if fines remain unpaid for six months, Shrestha confirmed that this provision has not been exercised so far.
Following the media coverage, several former candidates reportedly became anxious, with some approaching the commission after discovering their names listed despite having submitted their expense details earlier.
One such individual, Kajibahadur Karki, told Khabarhub that he had contested the House of Representatives election as an independent candidate from Kathmandu constituency No. 4. “I submitted my expense details late and paid a fine of Rs 15,000 in Shrawan 2080 BS. After seeing my name in the media list, I came here fearing I might not be allowed to contest again,” he said.
Karki visited the commission’s legal division around 1 pm and presented documents to Assistant Spokesperson Shrestha, seeking clarity on future procedures. In response, Shrestha acknowledged that the issue arose because data submitted at district offices had not been updated in an integrated manner on the commission’s website.
“You submitted the details at the district office. We had uploaded the data once, but due to a failure to update it later, the problem arose. There is no need to worry. The commission will not impose any restrictions on you,” she assured.
Shrestha further said that around 200 candidates’ expense details still appear to be missing. “We have sent letters to all district offices today. Once we receive the data, it will be updated on the website in an integrated manner,” she said.
She also advised candidates who have proof of submission but are still listed as defaulters to approach the commission with supporting documents. Those who genuinely have not submitted their expense details yet have been urged to do so immediately.
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