Santosh Mahato, a CPN-UML mayoral candidate of Ishnath municipality  alleged that he was physically assaulted by hundreds of cadres of Nepali Congress in Rautahat. According to Mahato, he was called to Paltu Baza by ASI Sanjay Kurmi but as soon as he reached there his car key was snatched by Kurmi and cadres of Nepali Congress along with Nepali Congress Candidate Anju Jha who assaulted him. Mahato accused the police of acting as mere eyewitness when he was being assaulted and demanded to take legal action against those who were responsible.

Police claimed that they escorted Mahato safely to his home as soon as they were informed about the incident.