Ram Padarath Sah Teli, the 85-year-old chairman of Brahmapuri Rural Municipality in Sarlahi district, passed away in Kathmandu on Wednesday morning. His death has left the local government leadership vacant, raising questions about a by-election.
Sah Teli had been suffering from a common cold and fever. According to his family, he had been receiving treatment at a Kathmandu hospital for a week. He was discharged on Tuesday after his health improved, but he passed away in his room on Wednesday morning while preparing to return home, his son Dilip Sah confirmed.
Preparations are underway to transport Sah Teli’s body to Brahmapuri Rural Municipality in Sarlahi. His demise has deeply saddened his family, relatives, and local residents.
Leadership Vacuum and By-Election Uncertainty
Ram Padarath Sah Teli was elected as the chairman of Brahmapuri Rural Municipality in the 2079 local level elections, representing the Nepali Congress. He secured 4,678 votes, defeating his closest rival, Binod Kumar Sah of the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, who received 3,271 votes. Binod Kumar Sah was the outgoing chairman of the rural municipality.
The legal framework for holding by-elections following the death of an elected local representative is unclear, leading to uncertainty regarding the filling of the vacant position. According to the Election Commission, Nepal’s Constitution and the Local Level Election Act, 2073, stipulate that if an elected representative’s term expires prematurely and more than one year remains in their tenure, the vacant post shall be filled through a by-election for the remaining period.
However, there is currently no clear information on when a by-election will be held for the vacant chairman position in Brahmapuri Rural Municipality. Furthermore, no decision has been made regarding who will be appointed as the acting chairman.
