Kathmandu, June 28: Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) has challenged the verdict of the special election tribunal of Judge Pramod Bijayi, which declared the defeat of its lawmaker Rajendra Prasad Lohani elected to the House of Representatives from Nuwakot, Constituency-1 in the May elections last year by securing 11,786 votes.

Dr. Lohani had polled 15 votes less than his arch -rival in the May elections.

The verdict declared the victory of Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party by a single vote at the end of the recounting of votes. RPP candidate Dr. Lohani secured 11,484 against the 11,483 votes secured by his rival Rajendra Prasad Lohani.

The special election tribunal carried out the recounting of the votes after Rastriya Prajatantra Party candidate Prakash Chandra Lohani filed a lawsuit against Rajendra Prasad Lohani stating that the counting of votes had not been done properly and he had been deprived of victory.

“The verdict announced after one month long conspiratorial exercise is dubious, lacks transparency and has made a mockery of the peoples’ mandate,” a press release issued by the CPN(UML) central office said.

“The faith of the people towards the electoral system has been lost and the beginning of a serious conspiracy to end multiparty democracy has been started owing to the verdict,” the press release said.

The press release further stated that the electoral process was the pillar of the multiparty system. The verdict is the first case of forceful defeat of an elected representative mandated to work for the people, the release said.

“The present verdict is one more conspiracy hatched after the verdict of Bhadra 12, 2052 B.S. that has tarnished the image of the court.”

“The verdict has given a blow to the Constitution of Nepal 1990 and multiparty democracy.”

“The verdict has made our party very serious and our party is determined to fight against the conspiracy against the Constitution in the name of judicious decision,” the press release said.