Co-coordinator of Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Madhav Kumar Nepal has registered his candidacy from Rautahat-1 for the House of Representatives election to be held on March 5.
He is not legally disqualified from becoming a candidate. But even if he wins, he will not be able to serve as a lawmaker, minister, or prime minister (PM). That is to say, he will not be allowed to participate in meetings ranging from the election of a PM in the House to the passing or rejection of any bill.
The House of Representatives Election Act prohibits only those who have been convicted in corruption cases and whose cases have been finalized from becoming candidates. Leader Nepal’s case is currently sub judice in the Special Court.
The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a case against Nepal in the Special Court regarding the Patanjali land embezzlement scandal.
According to Section 33 of the Corruption Prevention Act 2002, if a public servant is charged with corruption, they are automatically suspended until the case is settled. The Act stipulates that individuals holding public office or legislative positions are also considered public servants.
In the Patanjali land case, the CIAA has made a claim for recovery of Rs 185,850,000 rupees from Nepal.
A Cabinet decision was made to grant approval for the purchase of land beyond the stipulated limit in 2009 while Nepal was PM. There is a provision for automatic suspension until any corruption case is resolved.
The then Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire on June 13, 2025 informed the HoR that Nepal had been suspended. He was elected from Rautahat-1 with 33,522 votes in the HoR election in 2022.
