Election Commission initiates probe into complaints against NA election candidates

KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) has begun investigation into complaints filed against candidates participating in the upcoming National Assembly (NA) election.

The poll body is scheduled to conduct a thorough examination of the complaints on Wednesday and Thursday.

Having provided a window for complaint submissions on Monday and Tuesday, the commission has received grievances against two candidates. Notably, Narayandutta Bhatta, the Nepali Congress candidate from the disabled cluster in Sudurpaschim Province, and Bishnu BK, the CPN (Maoist Center) candidate from the dalit cluster in Karnali Province, are the subjects of these complaints.

UML candidate Ram Chandra Joshi filed a complaint against Bhatta, alleging a lack of documentation to substantiate Bhatta’s claim of being a disabled person. Additionally, Hikmat BK, a UML candidate, raised concerns about Bishnu BK’s candidacy, asserting that the latter is listed in the closed list of the House of Representatives (HoR).

With the window for filing complaints closed, January 12 marks the deadline for candidates to withdraw their candidacy. Following this, on January 13, the Election Commission will officially assign election symbols to the candidates in preparation for the National Assembly election scheduled for January 25.