Kathmandu, Jan. 22 -- Hundreds of people in multiple vehicles escorted Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) senior leader Balendra (Balen) Shah as he filed his nomination in Jhapa constituency-5 on Tuesday. Projected by the party as its prime ministerial candidate, Shah was seen openly breaching the Election Commission's code of conduct and its directive to refrain from extravagance.

The scene at the nomination of CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli, Shah's rival in the constituency, was no different. On the very first day of the election race, both prominent figures openly challenged the constitutional commission and long-established electoral norms.

Increasing flashiness in the country's election campaigns has long been a concern. Amid repeated cal...