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The number of candidates opening bank accounts for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) polls has gradually increased. 

The Election Commission (EC) has made a mandatory provision for candidates to open accounts in the bank and financial institutions (BFIs) to keep records of entire financial transactions of candidates for the election purpose.

As of now, 671 candidates have submitted their bank accounts to the EC, according to the EC's Joint Secretary and Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai.

As per the election laws, the political parties and candidates contesting the HoR elections scheduled for March 5 should spend their money only through the banking channel, a tool to ensure transparency in electoral spending.

Secretary at the EC, Krishna Bahadur Raut, said that some candidates from the remote districts including Kalikot have already submitted their bank account at the EC and expected the candidates from other districts to open and submit their bank account details.

Officiating Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said that election expenses will remain transparent via the banking system. 

During a meeting with bankers at the commission today, he noted that measures have been put in place to prevent cash transactions during elections. 

He also revealed that the commission has established a dedicated directory for the purpose. 

The commission has made it mandatory for political parties and candidates to arrange separate bank accounts to manage their election spending in a transparent manner. 

In the previous election, parties and candidates were not mandated to operate bank accounts for their expenditures. However, this year it is required for parties and candidates to make their election spending through bank accounts. 

"A provision has been introduced allowing candidates to spend up to Rs 3.3 million, depending on geographical factors, with monitoring of the funds disbursed from the candidates' accounts to ensure financial discipline," Commissioner Bhandari said. 

Secretary at the commission, Krishna Bahadur Raut, noted that though all candidates from remote districts like Kalikot have successfully opened bank accounts, many candidates from more accessible districts have yet to do so. 

He emphasized that it should not be overly difficult to open an account, given the presence of at least one bank in all 753 local levels. 

Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, joint secretary and spokesperson of the commission, reported that out of 3,406 direct (first-past-the-post) candidates, only 671 have opened bank accounts to date. 

Santosh Koirala, President of the Nepal Bankers Association, indicated that some candidates have faced challenges in opening bank accounts in absence of national identity cards. 

Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma is leaving for Dhaka, Bangladesh today to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected government in Bangladesh.

The Foreign Minister's visit reflects Nepal's commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and deepening the bonds of cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh, reads a press statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. 

Foreign Minister Sharma would be accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry. 

Minister Sharma is scheduled to return home on February 19.

The latest electoral data from Nepal reveals a profound demographic shift that is reshaping the nation’s political landscape. While the country has historically been governed by a ‘senior guard’, a new wave of political representation is emerging, characterized by a sharp divide between the voting and candidacy patterns of the youth and the elderly. This generational disconnect suggests that while established parties like the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML, and Nepali Communist Party (NCP) maintain institutional loyalty among seniors, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has effectively monopolized the aspirations of the younger generation.

For the first time in recent history, the ‘under 30’ demographic has found a singular political home. The RSP has positioned itself as the primary vehicle for youth participation, fielding 17 individuals. In a surprising show of grassroots youth engagement, the Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party follows with 14 individuals under 30. 

This stands in stark contrast to the UML, which has managed to field only three, and the Nepali Congress, which remarkably has zero representation in this youngest category. Other parties like the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (seven individuals), CPN (Maoist) (four individuals) and NCP (one individual) show minor engagement. Smaller entities like the Shram Sanskriti Party (seven), Ujyalo Nepal Party (nine) round out the group, but the data suggests that for the GenZ demographic, the RSP is the primary attraction.

As we move into the 31 to 40-year-old demographic, the RSP reaches its peak influence with a massive 53 individuals. This is the highest concentration of talent for the party and signals a strong grip on the young-adult workforce. This age group also sees a significant surge from the Ujyalo Nepal Party with 33 individuals, the CPN (Maoist) with 36, and the Shram Sanskriti Party with 31. Interestingly, even in this energetic age bracket, the traditional ‘big two’ remain largely absent, with the UML fielding only 10 and the NC only nine. The NCP shows a slightly higher involvement here with 18 candidates, while the RPP fields 26 and the Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party maintains 19.

The 41 to 50 age bracket serves as the ultimate competitive melting pot, where almost all parties show their most balanced numbers. The NCP holds the highest number here with 61 candidates, followed closely by the RSP with 51 individuals. They are joined at the top by the CPN (Maoist) and the Shram Sanskriti Party, both of which have exactly 50 individuals. The RPP also shows its strength here with 44 individuals. It is only at this stage—the mid-40s—that the NC (39) and UML (36) begin to see their numbers rise, suggesting that their recruitment pipelines favor those who have ‘paid their dues’ over several decades. Other notable presences in this middle bracket include the Ujyalo Nepal (29), and Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party (38).

The power dynamic shifts entirely once we cross the 50-year threshold. In the 51 to 60 age group, the CPN-UML records the single highest number in the entire dataset with 71 individuals, followed closely by the Nepali Congress with 67 and the RPP with 51. The NCP remains a significant force with 47 candidates. Meanwhile, the RSP begins to dip with 41 individuals, and the CPN (Maoist) drops to 28. In this bracket, the Ujyalo Nepal (25) and Nepal Majdur Kishan Party (38) maintain steady numbers, but this group clearly represents the ‘power center’ of the established parties, where organizational experience is most highly valued.

Finally, the 61 and above category cements the divide. The Nepali Congress leads the seniors with 50 individuals, followed by the CPN-UML with 44, NCP with 37, and the RPP with 35. In a sharp reversal of the youth trend, the newer parties are almost non-existent among the elderly. The CPN (Maoist) has 12, the Ujyalo Nepal has eight, and the Shram Sanskriti Party has six. Most notably, the RSP has a mere two individuals in this senior group. 

This data paints a final picture of a nation split by time: a youth-led movement is rising from the bottom, while the traditional guard continues to hold the fort from the top.