KATHMANDU: The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has accused the ruling party of vote-rigging.

Issuing a statement on Saturday, the party’s Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel said the government failed to hold the by-elections in a free and fair manner.

“It is indeed sad that the incumbent government failed to hold the election in a transparent manner,” reads the statement, accusing the ruling Nepal Communist Party of misusing power to elect its candidates.

By-elections were held today to elect people’s representatives in various 52 vacant posts across 37 districts.