RPP moves to SC against the decision of Election Commission

Kathmandu Feb 3-The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) moved to the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday challenging the Election Commission's January 24 decision to deny both factions of the RPP the election symbol, a plough.

The petition claims that the decision of the EC infringes the rights of the RPP led by Rana, as the party had been using the symbol for a long time.

"The EC's decision violates party's rights ensured by Articles 11(1), 12, 2(c), 113 and the section 18 of the Election Act 1990," the writ petition states.

Talking to Nepalnews on Friday, joint general secretary of the RPP Khem Raj Pundit said that they moved to the SC in the suspicion that it will give decision under some influence.

"Every proof is in our favour and we are the RPP, but the EC did not give us the symbol 'plough' rather decided to freeze it so we moved to the SC with the suspicion that the EC might give verdict under some influence," he added.

He further added that they moved to the SC to save their election symbol.

The EC decided to freeze the election symbol plough after both factions of RPP led by Rana and Home Minister Kamal Thapa claimed for the same saying they are the authentic party.

The dissident faction of RPP led by Home Minister Thapa deposed party president Rana from the post of party president by holding a special general convention after the party establishment side expelled 10 central committee members including Thapa.

The establishment side said the claim of Thapa faction for the election symbol is baseless saying the dissident faction did not have right to summon special general convention.