KATHMANDU, Sept 2: Dr Lekh Jung Thapa, who has been selected by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to contest the by-election in Rupandehi Constituency-3, has made public the divorce papers with his first wife. Taking to Facebook on Tuesday, Dr Thapa clarified the allegations of polygamy he has been facing in social media platforms.
Dr Thapa released documents showing that the District Court of Rupandehi, presided over by Judge Umesh Koirala, had finalized a mutual divorce agreement on January 29, 2023.
“My family life is neither illegal nor problematic,” he wrote. “I have indeed married twice due to circumstances, but it is equally true that I have divorced one wife, and above all, I am also the father of a child from that marriage. I have been transparent about this with my party.”
Dramatic surge in number of men seeking divorce in Rupandehi
Dr Thapa further stated that broken relationships should not ruin the lives of children. “If maintaining a cordial relationship with my child’s mother for the sake of shared parenthood is my fault, I have no regrets. I will continue to strengthen that bond as long as I live and I do not need anyone’s permission for that,” he wrote.
Dr Thapa also wrote that he did not enter politics to become a leader but rather to be a companion in the campaign to transform the country. “I want to be a strength, not a weakness, in this transformation — and I will fully accept and honor any decision my party makes,” his post read.
After holding an internal competition among aspirants, the RSP finalized Thapa as its candidate. However, the party’s decision drew backlash after revelations that he was allegedly married to two women at the same time. Reports suggested that he had been living with his second wife without divorcing his first.
In response to the controversy, the RSP stated that it would revoke its decision to field Dr Thapa as a candidate if he failed to submit the divorce papers.
The Rupandehi-3 seat fell vacant following the death of lawmaker Deepak Bohara from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party in April. The Election Commission has scheduled the by-election for November 3.
