CHITWAN, August 5: With 2, 800 out of 3, 302 votes counted in ward 20 of Bharatpuir Metropolitan City, CPN (Maoist Center) mayoral candidate Renu Dahal is taking lead with 156 votes. She secured 42, 913 votes. Her closest rival of CPN-UML Devi Gyawali has secured 42, 757 votes
Since Nepali Congress has a stronghold in this ward, UML is unlikely to garner a significant number of votes.
The first phase of local level elections were held in Bharatpur Metropolitan City on May 14.
Bharatpur: Renu Dahal takes a lead of over 3,000 votes
Likewise, for the deputy-mayoral post, Parbati Shah is leading with 46,966 votes. Her immediate rival Divya Sharma of UML has secured 39,377.
The re-elections were held in ward no. 19 of the Bharatpur metropolis yesterday after the ballot papers were torn off by Maoist Center vote count representatives at night of May 28.
Vote count of ward no 19 was underway after completing 27 wards when the incident took place.
The votes of ward 20 were yet to be counted following the ballot paper tearing incident.
The re-elections were held in ward no. 19 of the Bharatpur metropolis yesterday after the ballot papers were torn off by Maoist Center representatives at night of May 28.
Police had arrested Maoist Center representatives Drona Babu Siwakoti and Madhu Neupane. A case has been filed against them at Chitwan District Court. The vote count was halted following the ballot paper tearing incident.
UML had demanded to resume vote count without further delay while the Nepali Congress and Maoist Center asked the Election Commission to conduct repolling in this ward.
EC had decided to hold elections once again. UML filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court against the EC’s decision. SC upheld EC’s decision.
