KATHMANDU, JANUARY 27
After the Supreme Court's verdict, Rabi Lamichhane walked out of the home ministry and told mediapersons that he welcomed the court decision. He said he was now 'stateless' and was unable to make any comments.
He said the SC decision meant that he had 'no identity' and he was no longer the chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party.
Constitutional lawyer Bhimarjun Acharya told THT that it remained to be seen what the EC would do about his party. "Whether or not it recognises RSP is debatable," he said. "It will also be interesting to see what the authority concerned will do about the accusation that Lamichhane held two passports - American and Nepali – atthe same time," he added.
An Election Commission official said the EC would take necessary decisions only after going through the full text of the SC verdict.
Disqualification of any member or office bearer of a political party does not adversely impact the status of the party, the RSP can always designate somebody as the chair in place of Lamichhane, a source said.
The EC has the authority to hold byelection if a constituency falls vacant for any reason at a time it deems fit.
Lawyers, meanwhile, told THT that Lamichhane could get his Nepali citizenship restored any moment and it was just a matter of procedural issue. Once Lamichhane gets his citizenship restored, he will be able to enjoy all rights Nepali citizens are entitled to.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 27, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
