KATHMANDU, Jan 22: Election Commission (EC) has rejected the candidacy of Resham Lal Chaudhary, the Nagarik Unmukti Party Nepal candidate from Kailali constituency no. 1, citing legal disqualification under existing election laws.
The District Election Officer’s Office said on Thursday that Chaudhary’s nomination could not be accepted as he had been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court (SC). Under the House of Representatives Election Act, individuals handed a life sentence are barred from contesting elections.
Hearing on case against Resham Chaudhary postponed
Chaudhary was convicted in connection with the 2015 Tikapur incident in Kailali, where several people including security personnel were killed. The apex court later identified him as the mastermind of the incident and handed down a life sentence.
Although Chaudhary later received a presidential pardon on the recommendation of the government, election authorities said the clemency does not nullify the court’s verdict. The decision also referred to an earlier EC ruling that disqualified Chaudhary from party membership under the Political Parties Act and relevant court decisions.
Chaudhary had faced a similar rejection during the 2022 parliamentary elections from Bardiya–2. Following that decision, his father Lalbir Chaudhary contested the seat as an independent candidate, won the election and later joined the Nagarik Unmukti Party.
