NIMJN Investigation Reveals: Political Parties Systematically Flout Donation Disclosure Laws
While the streets were filled with high-cost rallies and mass mobilization during the 2022 elections, the CPN (Maoist Centre) reported receiving only Rs 10,000 in donations for the entire House of Representatives race. Across the aisle, while the Nepali Congress and UML reported 9.33 Crore and 6.84 Crore respectively, the identities of those donors remain a total mystery.
For years, the soaring cost of elections in Nepal has been an “open secret.” But at NIMJN, we don’t settle for secrets; we look for evidence. Our latest investigation dives into the systemic opacity of campaign financing, where the official records submitted to the Election Commission tell one story, and the money on the street tells another.
NIMJN Investigation Reveals: Political Parties Systematically Flout Donation Disclosure Laws
“Who gave the party how much donation? The report should come with the names of the donors, but that is also missing.”
Dinesh Thapaliya, Former Chief Election Commissioner
In our newest story, we expose the “Show Donation” phenomenon - a process where political parties report symbolic, legal contributions to satisfy oversight, while massive, undocumented funds fuel the actual campaign machinery.
The Cost of Silence:
Illegal Cash Transactions: Law requires any donation over Rs 25,000 to be made via bank check or transfer. Our investigation found that parties are routinely bypassing this, accepting massive sums in cash to keep the paper trail non-existent.
Anonymous Power: For donations exceeding Rs. 100,000, parties must disclose the donor’s name, address, and source of income. We found that for nearly Rs.14,00,000 ($1.4 Million) in combined donations across major parties, these details were missing, leaving the public in the dark about who is truly funding our leaders.
The “Accounting Template” Trap: Outgoing Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Thapaliya admitted to NIMJN that while the Commission provides reporting templates, they lack the legal authority to investigate private bank accounts. Experts warn this has turned audit reports into “flower arrangements of facts” - designed to look good while hiding the truth.
A Catalyst for Unrest: We spoke with Gen-Z activists who warn that this financial secrecy is a primary driver of public anger. The “Gen-Z protest” movement of 2025 specifically targeted the opaque lifestyles of leaders whose documented income cannot explain their “luxurious” reality.
🔗 Read the Full Investigation: Political Parties Systematically Flout Donation Disclosure Laws
The Foundation: Where the Accountability Failed
This report is the result of a trail that began with our original exposé: Political Parties Involved in Tax Evasion.
Before we looked at how parties spend during elections, we looked at how they manage their own finances. We discovered that 62 political parties were bypassing their own tax obligations, including social security taxes deducted from their own staff’s salaries. This original investigation proved that financial misconduct is a year-round reality within the halls of power.
NIMJN continues to demand one thing: Full Accountability. When political parties treat financial laws as mere suggestions, they don’t just evade taxes or hide donors. They bypass the very people they claim to represent.
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With Gratitude,
The NIMJN Team