The Nepali Congress has finalised its candidates for the April 23 by-elections.

A central work execution committee meeting of the party held on Thursday decided to field Govinda Bhattarai in Tanahun-1 and Jeet Narayan Shrestha in Chitwan-2.

The meeting decided to support Janata Samajbadi Party’s candidate in Bara-2, said Badri Pandey, the party’s joint general secretary.

Samajbadi Party Chairman Upendra Yadav is eager to contest the election from the constituency.

By-elections are scheduled in three constituencies to fulfil vacant House of Representatives seats.

The seats in Tanahun and Bara had become vacant after Ramchandra Paudel and Ramsahay Yadav were elected President and Vice President respectively.

Paudel was elected as a member of the House of Representatives from Tanahun-1, while Yadav from Bara-2.

Likewise, Chitwan-2 became vacant after Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane, who was elected from the constituency last November, lost his lawmaker status as his citizenship certificate was invalidated by the Supreme Court in January.