CHITWAN, Aug 7: Devi Prasad Gyawali, who lost in local level elections in Bharatpur Metropolitan City, said he had to suffer a defeat due to the Supreme Court’s delay in delivering verdict to settle a dispute involving a halt in vote counting following the findings of torn up ballot papers with votes during the count.

Gyawali had vied for mayoral post in the Metropolitan City from the CPN-UML.

Following the findings of torn ballot papers during the count, the Election Commission (EC) thereafter had ordered re-polls in the metropolis.

Following this, a writ petition was filed in the apex court challenging the EC’s direction. The apex court in response to the petition however upheld the EC’s decision and directed re-elections in the metropolis.

Speaking at a press conference organized by CPN-UML Chitwan on Monday, Gyawali claimed that taking advantage of the delay in verdict delivery, opposition party got enough room to play, thus helping defeat him.

As a result of delay in verdict delivery, millions of rupees were poured in the metropolis in between the time period to woo voters by selling ‘false’ promise of development, he claimed. The verdict was delayed just to let him get defeated, he maintained. RSS