KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 5

Nepali Congress leader Umesh Shrestha today filed a petition at the Election Commission demanding that the poll panel declare him elected as member of the House of Representatives from Chitwan-2 constituency. Assistant Spokesperson for the EC Surya Prasad Aryal said Shrestha argued that he should be declared winner as the Supreme Court had invalidated Rabi Lamichhane's election to the HoR from Chitwan-2. Shrestha was the nearest rival of Lamichhane.

The SC has not released the full text of its verdict.

Shrestha polled 15,099 votes, whereas Lamichhane got 49,264 votes in the election held on November 20.

Aryal said EC office bearers would take a call on Shrestha's petition, but as per existing laws there shall be a byelection in Chitwan-2.

Since Lamichhane had already been declared the winner and had worked as a lawmaker, there shall be a byelection, said Aryal.

He said as per Article 89 of the constitution, Chitwan-2 had fallen vacant. The article stipulates that the seat of a member of the Parliament shall fall vacant in case a lawmaker is no longer qualified to be a lawmaker.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 6, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.