KATHMANDU: Leaders and cadres of the Rastriya Swatantra Party-RSP from Bara staged a sit-in protest outside the party’s central office on Sunday, demanding transparency over a dispute surrounding the Kalaiya Sub-Metropolitan City convention election results.
The protest follows controversy over the outcome of the party’s municipal convention in Kalaiya, where Uma Shankar Rauniyar was elected chairperson after securing 124 votes, according to protesting members.
The agitating cadres claimed that the dispute emerged after a notice was issued calling for a re-election despite the completion of the voting process and the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected office bearers.
According to the protesters, the Madhesh Province committee justified the decision by arguing that the winning candidate had failed to secure a “50 percent plus one” majority.
The demonstrators alleged that the move contradicts the party’s statute and democratic norms, arguing that a fresh election should not be called once election results have been officially announced and elected representatives have already taken the oath of office.
They further claimed that the decision to invalidate the election was circulated through social media without any official letterhead or authorized signature.
The protesting cadres have demanded a clear explanation from the party leadership and called for an impartial resolution of the dispute.
They also urged the party to ensure transparency in its ongoing convention process and make decisions in accordance with the party’s constitution and democratic principles.
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