Major opposition party CPN-UML has commented that Supreme Court verdict on Sunday to uphold Election Commission’s decision to conduct re-election in Bharatpur Metropolis-19 has boosted the morale of wrongdoers as it has set the precedent that they can get away after committing illegal activities.

UML Parliamentary party deputy leader Subas Nembang said the SC decision was unfortunate.

“Today’s SC decision is unfortunate on the ground that it would set bad precedent of tearing ballot papers when one is in the brink of losing the election. It encourages illegal activities,” Nembang told the Post.

Nembang said that UML had expressed reservation over EC decision to conduct re-election and expected the apex court would rectify this mistake. The leader, however, said the party would accept SC decision as it believes in rule of law and system.

Nembang further said the party would express its opinion after a standing committee meeting scheduled for Monday.

The Bharatpur vote counting for the first phase of local polls conducted on May 14 was stalled after CPN (Maoist Centre) cadres allegedly tore 90 ballot papers on May 28.

CPN-UML candidate Devi Gyawali was leading the votes against Maoist Centre’s candidate Renu Dahal. Dahal is also the daughter of Maoist Centre Chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

The Election Commission had on June 3 decided to conduct re-election in ward 19.

On June 4, a writ petition was filed at the apex court by Gunja Man BK, a ward member candidate for Bharatpur-19, and Tulsiram Pandey, an advocate, against the EC decision to conduct re-election, responding to which the SC had stayed the EC decision on June 5.

ALSO READ: SC ORDERS RE-ELECTION IN BHARATPUR METROPOLITAN-19