Rastriya Swatantra Party Lamjung District Convention: Allegations of Rigging Lead to Election Commission Complaint

Pokhara. Candidates for the post of chairman have filed a complaint with the central election commission alleging rigging in the district convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Lamjung. They allege that rigging occurred in the election for the district chairman position during the convention. Three candidates have registered complaints with the central election commission, stating that the election process violated the party's statute and procedures.

In the election held on Jestha 24, 5 candidates were in the running for the district chairman post. According to Article 33 (1) of the Party Statute 2079 (Third Amendment) and Clause 16 (a) of the Election Procedure 2080, it is mandatory to secure more than 50 percent of the total valid votes to be elected as chairman. As per this provision, if a majority is not obtained, a re-election must be held between the two candidates who received the most votes.

They allege that the chief of the district election committee, Krishnakumari Adhikari, declared Ashok Sapkota, who received only 69 votes out of a total of 134 valid votes, as the chairman. After the election results were announced, the election committee had announced that the second round of voting would take place at 11 AM on Jestha 25. However, the candidates complain that Sapkota was declared victorious and even sworn in without the consent of the other four candidates, taking advantage of the fact that most representatives had already returned home.

"In our party, which considers law and good governance as its core ideals, such a style of work has tarnished the party's dignity," the complaint states. They demand that the announcement of Sapkota's victory and his assumption of office be immediately revoked and a re-election be held in accordance with the party's statute. Candidates for chairman Hari Bahadur Dhital, Vijay Ranjan Poudel, and Navraj Pahadi have jointly registered the complaint.