Kathmandu, January 27

The Election Commission today canceled the candidacy of UML’s Ram Bahadur Thapa  for the National Assembly election under the person with disability category from Province 4.

According to EC Spokesperson Nava Raj Dhakal, the EC sent its decision to cancel Thapa’s candidacy to  the relevant election office.

An EC commissioner told THT that Thapa had obtained identity card of his disability in 2006 but he did not submit the copy of his new identity card as mandated by the EC’s directive.

The commissioner said that Thapa obtained his new identity card only two days after he filed his nomination paper after somebody lodged a complaint against his candidacy. “Our decision may be challenged in the court but we decided to stick to the spirit of law,” the commissioner said and added that at the time of filing nomination, Thapa did not meet the criteria. “We are not questioning his disability but it is more about upholding the law,” the commissioner added.

Thapa filed his candidacy on January 24 but made his ID card on January 26 and submitted it to the EC the same day.  As left alliance’s candidate’s nomination  under the person with disability category  has been cancelled by EC, Nepali Congress’ candidate under the same category Prakash  Panth is likely to be elected  unopposed.  NA elections are scheduled for February 7.