The Election Office for Federal Constituency-1 of Nuwakot on Tuesday quashed complaints against Nepali Congress provincial candidate in Nuwakot-1 (B), retaining his candidacy after he produced “evidence” of his resignation from the Agriculture Development Bank Limited board.

It was the only complaint registered against any candidate for both the federal and provincial elections, according to the EC. There are a total of 806 candidates (322 for federal and 484 for provincial elections) as per the revised statistics of the EC. The law bars anybody who enjoys government facilities from the polls. According to the election authority, anybody who draws remuneration, or allowance or any other facility from the government treasury cannot run for elected office.

According to Tanka Negi, information officer at the Election Office, they decided to quash the complaint against Ramesh Mahat after he produced a copy of his resignation approved by the ADBL. Gyan Bahadur Tamang had registered the complaint against Mahat on behalf of Badri Mainali, the CPN-UML candidate in the same provincial constituency.

Mahat had resigned as personal secretary to then finance minister Ram Sharan Mahat in June 2015 after he faced the charge of selling zinc sheets meant to be distributed among the earthquake-displaced families. He had denied the allegations.

“It seems the parties have started choosing candidates by considering legal provisions well,” said EC Spokesperson Nawaraj Dhakal on the absence of complaints against other candidates.

The election officer for federal constituency also works as the election officer for provincial constituencies under a federal constituency. Each federal constituency comprises two provincial constituencies.