National
UML disabled member’s candidacy revoked
The Election Commission on Saturday annulled the nomination of Ram Bahadur Thapa, the CPN-UML Province 4 candidate for National Assembly, under the “disabled and minority” category.The Election Commission on Saturday annulled the nomination of Ram Bahadur Thapa, the CPN-UML Province 4 candidate for National Assembly, under the “disabled and minority” category.
But the poll authority approved the candidacy of Seriram Parki, the Nepali Congress Province 7 candidate representing the Dalit community. Complaints were registered against the duo by the rival candidates.
NC candidate Prakash Pantha, who is also in the fray for the Upper House from the same category, had complained against Thapa. UML Dalit candidate Chakra Prasad Snehi had filed a complaint against Parki at the office of the election officer in Silgadhi, Doti.
Election Commissioner Narendra Dahal confirmed annulment of Thapa’s candidacy saying that he did not produce the certificates of disability while filing nomination. A candidate representing the disabled community is required to submit the photocopy of the certificate provided by the authority for filing candidacy.
“Thapa was found to have prepared the certificate of disability after registering his name,” said Dahal. “His old certificate of disability had also been scrapped by the government.”
This means Pantha has been elected unopposed as there were only two candidates in the category.
The complaint against Parki was that he could not be in the fray as he is enjoying state benefits as an elected member of the Melauni Municipality. But an election official clarified that Parki’s candidacy is valid as the post does not bring him monetary benefits.
There remain 82 candidates now for the 56 positions to be elected by the Electoral College consisting of Provincial Assembly members and the chiefs and deputy chiefs of the local governments. With the political parties seeking to field consensus candidates, as many as 17 have been elected unopposed. Three Upper House members are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the government.
The EC will publish the final list of candidates on Sunday. Candidates have been given until Monday to withdraw from the race. The same say, the EC will distribute election symbols for the polls scheduled for February 7.