Kathmandu, Dec 29

The Supreme Court today directed the Election Commission to furnish all documents, including ballot boxes and ballot papers, of parliamentary first-past-the-post election of Sunsari-3.

A five-member constitutional bench of Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli, Deepak Raj Joshi, Om Prakash Mishra, Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana and Depak Kumar Karki issued the order following a hearing on petition filed by left alliance candidate Bhagwati Chaudhary.

Chaudhary alleged that Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar defeated her in collusion with the EC, and the local administration. DPM Gachhadar won from Sunsari-3 defeating his rival Chaudhary by 321 votes.

The SC has also ordered both sides to appear in person before the count on January 5 to discuss whether or not to stop Gachhadar from taking oath of secrecy.