Nepali Congress Candidate Claims Smear Campaign Ahead of Elections

Kathmandu. Prem Kumar Khatri, the Nepali Congress candidate for Gorkha-1 in the House of Representatives election, stated that attempts are being made to create confusion against him just before the polls.

Khatri expressed concern over the creation of confusion regarding matters related to him. He asserted that the propaganda claiming an investigation has started into non-existent issues concerning him is nothing more than an election 'stunt'.

There had been publicity suggesting an investigation was underway regarding a fake rescue incident involving him, as he is also the operator of SCE Himalaya in Thamel, Kathmandu. However, a press release issued by the company mentioned that the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has informed them that no investigation related to Khatri has been conducted so far.

The company's statement read, "We have received information from the relevant agencies that no investigation has been conducted so far concerning this company or its operator, Prem Kumar Khatri. We have also learned that the relevant agencies themselves are unaware of this matter."

The company further clarified that Khatri has been actively involved in various social works for over a year and a half with the sentiment that politics is service, not a profession. Similarly, the Nepali Congress Gorkha chapter also expressed objection, calling the propaganda misleading.

Meanwhile, in Gorkha, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai will support the Nepali Congress. Although he had filed his candidacy from Gorkha-1, he withdrew his nomination by the deadline set by the Election Commission. With Bhattarai now extending support, the electoral atmosphere in Gorkha has intensified. In Gorkha-1, Suden Gurung from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Hari Raj Adhikari from CPN (Maoist Centre), Ramchandra Lamichhane from CPN-UML, among others, are in the electoral field.