RSP candidate attacked in Rupandehi, vehicle vandalised in Dhanusha

KATHMANDU: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has alleged a surge in physical attacks targeting its candidates and party workers in multiple districts ahead of the elections.

In Rupandehi Constituency-2, RSP candidate and advocate Sulav Kharel, along with other party leaders and activists, reportedly faced a violent assault during an election preparation meeting. The incident occurred at Hotel Namobuddha, which houses the party’s election mobilization secretariat.

According to the RSP Rupandehi district committee, a group of cadres affiliated with the CPN-UML allegedly attacked party members.

The team was reportedly led by UML District Deputy Secretary Baburam Panthi and Youth Association Chair Krishna Kumal.

The attackers allegedly assaulted former Mayor of Sainamaina Municipality Chitra Bahadur Karki and Constituency-2 Secretary Baburam Aryal. Several leaders and cadres sustained injuries in the incident.

Condemning the attack, the RSP district committee accused its political rivals of resorting to “inhumane and undemocratic behavior” out of fear of electoral defeat.

Vehicle Vandalised in Dhanusha

In a separate incident in Dhanusha Constituency-3, unidentified individuals allegedly vandalised a vehicle belonging to RSP candidate Manish Jha during an election campaign. The party said the attackers also brutally assaulted Jha’s driver.

The RSP has strongly objected to both incidents, stating that choosing violence over policy-based political competition is an attack on the core values of democracy.

Issuing a press statement, the party demanded an impartial investigation into the incidents and called on local authorities and security agencies to immediately arrest those responsible and initiate legal action.

“Violence and intimidation have no place in democratic politics,” the statement read. “We urge the government and security agencies to ensure a free, fair, and secure environment for the upcoming elections.”