Communist Party Protests Election Commission Over Withheld Certificate for Dhanusha-1 Winner

Kathmandu. The Nepal Communist Party has expressed objection over the Election Commission's failure to issue a certificate of victory to Matrika Yadav, who was a candidate for the House of Representatives election from Dhanusha-1. In a statement issued on Monday, Central Office Secretary Govinda Acharya stated that it is a serious matter that the Commission is withholding the certificate from the winning candidate Yadav, despite having canceled the candidacy of Kishori Sah Kamal, a candidate from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, in accordance with the Election Act, 2074.

‘Our party's serious attention has been drawn to the fact that the Commission has not handed over the certificate of election to our party's candidate, Mr. Matrika Prasad Yadav, even though the vote count results for the House of Representatives member in Dhanusha District Constituency Number 1 have already been made public,’ the statement read.

It was mentioned that it is a worrying issue that the Commission is delaying the issuance of the certificate and engaging in actions contrary to the election process and established procedures, even though the counting of votes was completed and candidate Yadav of the CPN was declared the winner on February 22, following the Commission's own directive to announce the results.

It was stated that withholding the certificate by claiming it relates to a candidate whose candidacy has already been legally canceled, meaning the person is no longer a candidate, does not appear lawful.

Furthermore, the party urged the Election Commission, as a constitutional body, to adhere to the rule of law and function impartially without succumbing to any political pressure.

Sah has approached the Supreme Court against the Commission's decision to cancel his candidacy. On Sunday, the Commission sent another letter to the Election Officer stating that the declaration of the winner should be withheld as the case regarding the cancellation of the candidacy is under judicial review in the court.