KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 16 Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari has stated that elections should be policy-driven rather than money-driven. Addressing a program organized by the Election Commission on 'Election Campaign Expenditure Management and Promoting a Safe Environment for Women in Elections,' he stressed that political parties and candidates must prioritize policies and substantive agendas over financial influence during campaigns. Recalling the 2043 BS elections, Bhandari noted that Rup Chandra Bista had secured victory by mobilizing public support and modest contributions from citizens while advancing clear policies and programs aimed at public welfare. He further mentioned that nine candidates were elected in a similar manner during that period. Warning against excessive campaign spending, Bhandari said, 'If the election expenditure ceiling is exceeded, action will be taken, including the cancellation of candidacy.' He added that on Sunday alone, the Commission issued a 63-point directive outlining the 'Dos and Don'ts' to be strictly observed during the election campaign. Speaking at the same event, former Chief Election Commissioner Bhojraj Pokharel recalled that the first Constituent Assembly election in 2064 BS was conducted under newly formulated laws that marked a significant departure from previous legal frameworks. Observing that escalating campaign expenditures have increasingly contributed to corruption in the country, he described the Commission's initiative to reform election spending as a positive and necessary step. Similarly, Commission Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut stated that elections constitute a fundamental pillar of democracy and underscored the need for political parties and candidates to maintain full transparency in their campaign expenditures. (With inputs from Rastriya Samachar Samiti)