Mongolia will hold a parliamentary re-election in Khentii Province after MP D.Gantulga submitted his resignation amid what he called a ‘politically motivated’ rape allegation. During the meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on State Development on Wednesday, the re-election was scheduled to be held on 7 October.  The cost of re-election is estimated to MNT 228.9 million. The date and budget of the re-election will be discussed by parliament.

Re-election must be held within 30 days after a parliamentary decision has been made. However, the Law on Elections stipulates that elections must be held in June or October.

D.Gantulga from the Mongolian People’s Party won his seat in the State Great Khural from the 42nd parliamentary district in June 2016. He has since been accused of raping a 25-year-old female student at her home in June, 2017. The victim’s sister first reported the alleged crime to the police. When the case was made public, Gantulga, 31, pleaded not guilty and insisted that they ‘mutually consented’ to have sex.