KATHMANDU, Sept 21: The Election Commission is preparing to buy vehicles worth Rs 23.2 million for the commissioners despite criticisms from various quarters.

The SUV (sports utility vehicles) vehicles planned to be bought are of luxurious brand.

The Ministry of Finance agreed to apportion the budget after the EC piled pressure on the government to buy the vehicles for the use of local level elections.

The EC has asked the Ministry of Finance to provide Rs 116 million for the purpose. “The EC has sent a letter to the Finance Ministry seeking allocation of Rs 116 million to purchase posh vehicles for five commissioners,” a highly-placed source at the ministry told Republica Online. Each election commissioner will now ride a new brand car worth Rs 23.2 million. 

The budget cannot be held back as the Finance Ministry has already agreed to do so following pressure from the government, the official informed. According to him, the vehicles will probably be purchased this week. 

The EC has also demanded additional Rs 3.9 million for registration and insurance of the vehicles. 

This amount is equivalent to the budget allocated for a rural municipality, said the official. In the fiscal year 2017/18, the government has apportioned Rs 1million budget to rural municipalities on average.

 
• election commission
 
• posh car
 
• bleeding state coffer
 
• rs 23.2 million