Raju Pandey, a parliamentary candidate from Kathmandu Constituency No. 3 representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party, has questioned the ethics of individuals who served in an interim government later contesting in parliamentary elections.
Speaking in interviews with various media outlets and in remarks shared on social media, Pandey said that members of an interim government—mandated solely to conduct elections—should remain politically neutral and refrain from entering electoral contests themselves.
In Kathmandu Constituency No. 3, Pandey is facing competition from Kulman Ghising, chairperson of the Ujyaalo Nepal Party. Ghising previously served as Minister for Energy in the interim government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. After stepping down from the ministerial post, he formed a new political party and is now contesting the House of Representatives election from the same constituency.
Pandey has argued that it is contradictory for individuals entrusted with conducting elections to later seek votes themselves. In a video circulated on social media, he stated that an interim government is meant to be detached from party politics and function impartially.
“An interim government is supposed to be neutral and unaffiliated with political parties. How can someone leave the mandate of conducting elections and then run as a candidate?” Pandey said.
Legal Allowance, Moral Debate
Responding to a question from on whether his remarks were directed at his electoral rival, Pandey clarified that while the law does not prohibit interim government ministers from contesting elections, the issue is fundamentally ethical rather than legal.
“I am not saying they are legally barred. If the law allows it, who am I to say otherwise? But my point is this: those in an interim government are expected to remain neutral. Once elections begin, leaving the government and joining party politics raises serious ethical concerns,” he said. “This is not a legal issue—it is a moral one.”
Pandey noted that Kulman Ghising is not the only former interim government official contesting the elections. Candidates such as Bablu Gupta and Jagdish Kharel—both nominated by Pandey’s own party—also resigned from government positions to enter the electoral race.
Asked whether he had raised the same concern within his own party, Pandey said he had not yet had the opportunity to formally present the issue. “I haven’t been able to raise it within the party so far,” he said. “I will bring it up in the party meeting.”
Pandey, who previously served as Chief of the Municipal Police of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, resigned from his post on march 5 in order to contest the election.
