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The Rastriya Swatantra Party has suspended lawmaker Dhaka Kumar Shrestha after his audio of asking for Rs 20 million bribe with medical entrepreneur Durga Prasain was leaked. An office bearers’ meeting of the party held on Sunday decided to suspend lawmaker Shrestha. RSP Chief Whip Santosh Pariyar said that Shrestha has been suspended for a week. “This is a sensitive issue. He has been suspended for a week. He will be asked to furnish clarification,” he said. In the audiotape, lawmaker Shrestha was heard asking Rs 20 million with Prasain saying that he had to pay the money to the party to become health minister.    

The Rastriya Swatantra Party is to take action against lawmaker Dhaka Kumar Shrestha. RSP Vice-President Dol Prasad Aryal said that the party is preparing to expel lawmaker Shrestha after the audio of him asking for kickback with medical entrepreneur Durga Prasain was leaked. “We have got information about the matter. We will take necessary action after carrying out an investigation,” he said. In the audiotape, lawmaker Shrestha was heard asking the bribe with Prasain saying that he had to pay Rs 20 million to the party to become health minister.  

Twenty-nine polling stations, out of 43, in the Chitwan electoral constituency have been assessed as 'highly sensitive' in view of the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) by-election. The by-polls are being held in three constituencies including Bara-2 and Tanahun-1 on April 23. According to Chitwan Chief District Officer Surendra Poudel, polling stations here have been categorized as normal, sensitive and highly sensitive. Despite the categorization, all polling stations are equally significant and the district administration is preparing to beef up security targeting them. The by-polls are obviously the concerns of political parties, civil society, people and the security mechanism, it is said. The decision about the mobilization of Nepali Army during the election will be taken by the government and at the moment, the Chitwan District Administration is busy working on the election security plan with the mobilizations of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and the National Investigation Department. The security arrangements will be made in such a way so that each citizen and a voter could feel safe during the election time. Security forces shall reach the entire polling stations by April 20. There are 124,695 voters in the Chitwan-2 for the April 23 by-elections and the voting will take place in 138 polling centers under 43 polling stations. By-election is required here after the Supreme Court decided to annul the HoR membership of Rabi Lamichhane, the President of Rastriya Swatantra Party who was elected here this constituency in the November-20 election, over his citizenship issue. A total of 22 candidates including Jeet Narayan Shrestha of Nepali Congress (ruling alliance), CPN-UML's Ram Prasad Neupane and RSP Chair Lamichhane will be competing for the HoR seat from here.  

Padam Limbu, who lost his life during the protest against the naming of Koshi Province, has been declared martyr on Friday. A Cabinet meeting held this morning decided to declare Limbu as a martyr. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kiranti said that the government has also decided to provide compensation to his family. Limbu, who was injured following a clash with security personnel during the protest held in Biratnagar on March 19, breathed his last during the course of treatment on March 24.