Chitwan, August 7

Local representatives elected from Bharatpur Metropolis representing the CPN-UML took oath of office separately here today.

Earlier, they had refused to take part in Sunday’s oath-taking ceremony citing the participation of those involved in tearing of ballot papers during vote counting of Ward No 19 of the metropolis and those who were behind the conspiracy.

Only elected representatives from CPN-MC and Nepali Congress had taken part in yesterday’s oath-taking.

Of the total 14  elected ward chairpersons representing UML from the metropolis, 12 took oath of office from Chief Returning Officer Kabil Prasad Neupane at the latter’s office in Bharatpur. The remaining two ward chairpersons could not take part in the oath-taking ceremony as their closest contenders from Ward No 4 and 7 had applied to the Hetauda bench of the High Court of Patan, saying they were not satisfied with the vote count results. The court had later issued an order staying the oath-taking of elected ward chairpersons from the respective wards. The court had also ruled that the elected ward chairs weren’t allowed to do anything in that capacity.

Elected ward members representing the party, however, took oath of office from the mayor-elect Renu Dahal at the metropolitan office.