KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress (NC) has devised a plan to nominate Dambur Bahadur Khadka as the candidate for the Ilam-2 by-election scheduled for April 27.

Khadka faced defeat in the 2079 elections against CPN-UML’s Subash Chandra Nembang.

According to the District Electoral Office, Nembang secured victory with 30,020 votes, while Khadka received 29,906 votes.

However, NC complained of foul play by UML.

NC sources claim that party President Sher Bahadur Deuba has directed Khadka to start preparations for the election assuring the ticket to him.

In addition to Khadka, Nagendra Kumal, Bheshraj Acharya, and Keshav Thapa are also mentioned as the aspirant for the by-election ticket.

Among them, Kumal is considered a junior to Khadka while Thapa lost to Nembang with 11,000 votes in the 2074 elections.

Likewise, Acharya had also faced a defeat in 2070 elections with 7,000 votes difference against Nembang.

UML, has reportedly planned to file candidacy of late Nembang’s son Suhang Nembang for the forthcoming election.