By-election: Nine file nominations in Tanahun-1

KATHMANDU: Nine candidates have registered their nominations for the by-election in the Tanahun-1 seat of the House of Representatives.

According to the District Election Office, Tanahun, nine candidates filed their nominations during office hours on Monday.

The Election Commission is holding the by-election in Tanahun-1 constituency on April 23. The seat became vacant with the election of Ram Chandra Poudel to the post of President.

Although nine candidates have filed their nominations, the main contest is expected to be between Dr Swarnim Wagle of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Dr Govinda Bhattarai of Nepali Congress (NC), and Sarbendra Khanal of CPN-UML.

While Khanal is a former IG of Nepal Police, Dr Wagle is a seasoned economist who left the NC few days ago to join RSP. Dr Bhattarai, on the other hand, is a former chairman of Nepal Students Union – the student wing of NC.

Candidates:
Ram Prasad Prajapati – Nepal Workers and Peasants Party
Purna Bahadur Rana – Rashtriya Jana Mukti Party
Sarbendra Khanal – CPN-UML
Prem Bahadur Thapa – Mongol National Organization
Ganesh Shrestha – CPN (Socialist)
Dr Govinda Bhattarai – Nepali Congress
Shobha Gurung – Rastriya Prajatantra Party
Bhim Bahadu Sunar – Nagarik Unmukti Party
Dr Swarnim Wagle – Rastriya Swatantra Party