The candidacies of five individuals, including former Prime Minister and Nepali Communist Party Joint Coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal, and Nagarik Unmukti Party leader Resham Chaudhary, have been called into question following formal complaints lodged with the Election Commission.
The complaints were lodged within the Commission’s stipulated timeframe, raising serious legal questions regarding the eligibility of these candidates for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections.
Rival candidate Ram Naresh Ray Yadav filed a complaint alleging Madhav Kumar Nepal (Rautahat-1)’s involvement in the irregular leasing of government land to "Patanjali Yogpeeth." The petition cites the Corruption Prevention Act, 2059, arguing that since the case is under investigation, Nepal should be considered under suspension and thus ineligible to contest.
Similarly, A complaint has been lodged seeking the cancellation of Resham Chaudhary (Kailali-1)'s nomination based on his conviction for the Tikapur incident. Under the House of Representatives Member Election Act, 2074, individuals convicted of serious criminal offenses and serving a sentence are prohibited from candidacy.
Two candidates in Bhaktapur-2 are under scrutiny. Rajiv Khatri from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) faces allegations regarding holding a "position of profit," while Januka Pathak from Nepal Janasewa Party faces complaints over legal procedural errors and criminal conduct.
According to Assistant Spokesperson Kul GC, the respective Election Officer’s offices will investigate these complaints and pass a final ruling.
Election Commission Spokesperson Narayan Bhattarai stated that the accused candidates will be given an opportunity to provide a defense. "The Election Officer will demand evidence based on the nature of the complaint and make a decision within the framework of the Act," Bhattarai said.
Section 13 of the House of Representatives Member Election Act, 2074, explicitly disqualifies individuals convicted of corruption, rape, human trafficking, money laundering, and other serious criminal offenses from running for office.
If the allegations are proven, these nominations will be revoked, potentially shifting the electoral dynamics in their respective constituencies.
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