Political parties have started preparations for the Chitwan-2 by-election scheduled for April 23.

The Election Commission decided to hold the by-election as the constituency became vacant after Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane, who was elected from the constituency last November, lost his lawmaker status over citizenship. The Supreme Court scrapped Lamichhane’s lawmaker position in January citing that the citizenship certificate he produced for the parliamentary election was invalid.

“We have already initiated campaigning for the upcoming poll,” said Krishna Prasad Bhusal, Chitwan chairman of the RSP. “The party started launching orientation programmes and expanding its organisation. Before going to the voters, the party is busy in internal preparations for the by-election.”

The RSP appointed Bhusal its district chief two weeks ago, after Dharmendra Sapkota stepped down expressing his dissatisfaction with the party leadership.

The RSP has launched campaigning in the hilly parts of Kalika Municipality and Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality in Chitwan-2. Lamichhane received fewer votes from those hilly parts in the November election.

Rabi Lamichhane was elected to the House of Representatives from Chitwan-2, defeating his closest rival Umesh Shrestha of the Nepali Congress by an overwhelming margin. Lamichhane received 49,261 votes against Shrestha’s 15,091. Krishna Bhakta Pokhrel of the CPN-UML garnered 14,649 votes.

The Election Commission has already published its calendar for the by-election. The political parties and independent candidates should file their candidacies on April 3. As many as 18 parties have been registered in the Election Commission for the by-election.

The Congress also started its campaign in Chitwan last week. There are a total of 28 wards of Bharatpur Metropolis, Kalika Municipality and Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality in Chitwan-2.

“We have mobilised two party representatives in each ward targeting the upcoming by-election,” said NC district president Rajeshwar Khanal. According to him, the party will launch further programmes soon.

The UML, CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party are also busy launching various programmes in Chitwan now. The UML has launched a nationwide programme called Mission Grassroots, which is ongoing in Chitwan as well. “In Chitwan, it is mainly focused on the by-election,” said Ram Prasad Neupane, the UML district chairman.

There were a total of 124,014 voters in Chitwan-2 for the November 20 election. Among them, 84,315 exercised their franchise. According to Bhimsen Karki, chief of the election office, Chitwan, 631 new voters have been listed.