KATHMANDU: Karvika Thapa, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) candidate for the House of Representatives from Rupandehi constituency No. 2, has withdrawn her candidacy after admitting that she holds a US permanent residency (PR).
Thapa said she decided to withdraw as she had not completed the constitutionally required three-month period after relinquishing her PR status, making her ineligible to contest the election.
According to Article 291 of the Constitution of Nepal, a candidate who has obtained permanent residency in a foreign country can contest elections only after three months have passed since renouncing that status. Thapa said the stipulated period had not been completed in her case.
She is the daughter of senior RPP leader Niranjan Thapa. Party sources said the RPP central leadership had advised her to withdraw her candidacy.
Issuing a statement, Thapa said she returned her nomination in line with the spirit and intent of the constitution and in accordance with party instructions.
She also clarified that although she had obtained US permanent residency while pursuing her studies, her Nepali citizenship and passport remain intact.
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