The Supreme Court Wednesday reinstated UML candidate Rajendra Lohini as the elected representative from Nuwakot 1 constituency to the House of Representatives for the remainder of the two and a half year term of parliament.

In a prolonged see-saw legal battle, a two man bench of the apex court overturned the decision of a special election tribunal at the Lalitpur appellate court 13 months ago that ordered a re-count of votes of the general elections and declared Dr.Prakash Lohini of the RPP by a margin of one vote.

Rajendra Lohini, who was elected by a narrow margin of 17 votes in the general elections, challenged the decision of the election tribunal at the Supreme Court. Dr. Lohini appeled to the tribunal charging a fradulent vote count.

The UML celebrated the decision by taking out a procession. The Supreme Court bench said Dr.Lohini’s appeal to the election court had procedural flaws.

UML is still the second largest party in the House of Representatives with 79 seats while RPP remains the third largest party with 12 seats in the lower house of parliament.

The ruling Nepali Congress with 113 seats continues to maintain a majority in the 205 member lower house of parliament.