KATHMANDU, Sept 21: Ruling Nepali Congress (NC) has been leading the early vote count for the second consecutive day Wednesday, followed by Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN), CPN (Maoist Center), the main opposition CPN-UML, and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) in that order.
In the vote counting, NC has been leading in 36 local units till late Wednesday evening. FSFN has been leading in 28 local units followed by the Maoists in 22, UML in 21 and RJPN in 18.
UML won 50 more local units than NC in the first and second phase local polls held on May 14 and June 28 and is likely to emerge as the largest political party in the polls in all 753 local units.
NC, Madhes parties at odds over share of Province 2 seats
Results for ward level vote counting have been arriving and two municipalities have been declared. The final vote count is expected to take a few more days, according to the Election Commission.
RJPN opened its account, winning both mayor and deputy mayor in Hansapur Municipality of Dhanusha district. Ramgyan Mandal and Renu Jha were elected mayor and deputy mayor respectively, defeating close contenders for both posts from NC.
Likewise, Maoist Center has won mayor and deputy mayor in Karjanha Municipality of Siraha.
Upendra Yadav-led FSFN has been leading the two other Madhes-based parties--RJPN and Bijay Gachchhadar-led Nepal Loktantrik Forum (NLF). RJPN has been leading in Birgunj, the sole Metropolitan City in Province 2, and in Janakpur Sub Metropolitan City.
RJPN’s Rajesh Man Singh is ahead of the NC candidate in Birgunj while Raj Kishor Sah of the same party has been leading the NC’s candidate with a margin of over 3,000 votes.
UML has been leading the Maoists in Simara-Jitpur Sub Metropolitan City while FSFN has been leading UML in Kalaiya Sub Metropolitan City. Vote counting in most of the 136 local units is underway. Counting in Lahan Municipality, Garudha Municipality and few other local units has been halted following disputes.
