Rana-led RPP-D gets a week’s time to prove validity of signatures

Kathmandu, August 13

Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana-led Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Democratic today sought 10 days with the Election Commission to prove the authenticity of signatures, but the EC gave it seven days.

Earlier on Friday, the election body had directed the RPP-D to present its central working committee members and lawmakers at its central office to verify the signatures the party has submitted.

“We have requested the EC to give us 10 days to verify signatures,” said RPP-D leader Siddhartha Thapa. He said that several RPP-D leaders and lawmakers are in the districts and they have not been able to arrive immediately in the capital city due to flood and landslides that caused devastation in several parts of the country.

Thapa claimed that over 40 per cent lawmakers as well as central working committee members of the new party had already verified their signatures by presenting themselves at the EC office.

EC spokesperson Surya Prasad Sharma said the election body would decide whether or not to recognise the newly formed party after verifying the signatures and examining if the number of lawmakers and central committee members comprise 40 per cent.

As per the constitution, support of 40 per cent lawmakers and central Working committee members are needed to split the party. The RPP has said thenewly formed RPP-D does not have support of 40 per cent lawmakers and CWC members.

Of the existing 153 CWC members in the party, support of 63members is needed to split the party.

The RPP formally split last Sunday after Rana registered a new party — RPP-D with the EC.