House of Representatives Election Ballots Found Mixed in Proportional Representation Box in Okhaldhunga

Kathmandu. Ballots intended for the direct election of the House of Representatives have been found in the box designated for proportional representation votes in Okhaldhunga.

Assistant Election Officer Sabinraj Pandey admitted that direct election ballots were found in the proportional representation box. "Some ballots for the direct election are being found when opening the proportional representation boxes," Assistant Election Officer Pandey told Ratopati.

The final result for the direct election in Okhaldhunga has already been announced. Bishwaraj Pokharel, the candidate from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), was elected, defeating Nepali Congress candidate Kumar Luitel by five votes.

We asked Assistant Election Officer Pandey and Congress candidate Luitel what would happen in this situation. Congress candidate Luitel told Ratopati, "In the all-party minute we signed before starting the counting, we agreed to invalidate the direct election ballots if they were found in the proportional representation box. Therefore, those have been invalidated."

Assistant Election Officer Pandey also stated that the ballots were invalidated because the election directive and the all-party meeting minute mentioned invalidating direct election ballots found in the proportional representation ballot box. Pandey asserted that the counting and result declaration proceeded according to the decision made in the all-party agreement.

Before the result declaration, Congress candidate Luitel had raised questions, claiming an 188-vote difference in the ballots found during the minute-taking and counting process. He had filed a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer's office demanding a recount to search for the missing ballots. However, speaking to Ratopati today, he stated that since an agreement was already in place, the found ballots were invalidated, and the counting for the proportional representation votes proceeded.