BUTWAL: The electoral atmosphere in Rupandehi Constituency No. 2 has taken a dramatic and controversial turn as Sulav Kharel, the candidate for the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), was reportedly found in a suspicious situation at a local hotel.

According to reports, local residents and representatives from rival political factions intercepted Kharel at the hotel, alleging that he had summoned voters to the location with the intention of distributing cash in exchange for electoral support. The situation grew tense as a crowd gathered, demanding an explanation for the private meeting held just days before the polling.

In response to the allegations, Kharel has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Speaking to local media, he claimed that the meeting was a routine interaction and alleged that he was actually the victim of an "attempted attack" by cadres of opposing parties who intended to disrupt his campaign.

A Pattern of Controversy: The 'Troubled' Candidacy of Sulav Kharel

This latest incident adds to a growing list of controversies that have dogged Kharel since he entered the race for Rupandehi-2. Despite being an US-educated lawyer, his candidacy has been anything but smooth:

  • The 'Ticket Hijack' Scandal: Kharel’s entry into the race was marked by internal party strife. RSP had initially finalized Ashish Subedi (close to Balen Shah) as the candidate. However, in a midnight move that many labeled a "ticket hijack," Kharel secured the official nomination, leading to a deep vertical split among local party workers and a public snub from Balen Shah's faction.

  • Insensitivity to Cooperative Victims: Kharel faced immense backlash in Butwal when he dismissed the concerns of Supreme Cooperative victims. When asked about the 785 million rupee embezzlement case affecting thousands of local families, he reportedly stated it was "not his concern," drawing charges of being elitist and insensitive.

  • Attacks on the Judiciary: Kharel is infamous for a controversial social media post where he stated his "heart did not cry" while the Supreme Court was burning, labeling judges as "constitutional thieves." This led to a confrontation in the Constitutional Bench during a hearing, where the pressure of the judges' questioning reportedly caused him to faint (collapse) in the courtroom.

  • The 'MRR' Misuse: Most recently, he was criticized by the popular social group "MRR Butwal" for using their name in his manifesto without permission, claiming he would provide them infrastructure for "bhajans," a move the group slammed as a cheap political stunt.

As the "Nepal Aaja" team continues to monitor the situation at the hotel, the local administration has stepped up security to prevent further clashes. With allegations of money distribution now surfacing, the integrity of the election in Rupandehi-2 faces its toughest test yet.