KATHMANDU, May 16: Early vote count has shown that the second largest party CPN-UML has been leading the first phase of local polls as of Monday evening.
The UML has emerged victorious in five rural municipalities, winning the posts of chief and other positions in those places while the ruling Nepali Congress has won in four rural municipalities. The prime minister's party CPN (Maoist Center) is joint second, winning chief and other seats in four rural municipalities in the initial counting.
An independent candidate Lopsang Chhiring (Raju) Bista was elected as chief of Dalome Rural Municipality in Mustang.
The UML won the post of municipal chiefs and other posts in Chame and Nesyang rural municipalities of Manang, She Phokshundo and Kaike rural municipalities of Dolpa and Gharapjhong Rural Municipality of Mustang.
NC candidates were elected to the post of chiefs and in other positions in Nasong and Narphu rural municipalities of Manang and Lo-manthang and Muktichhetra rural municipalities of Mustang.
Maoist Center candidates were elected as chief as well as other posts in Guthichaur Rural Municipality in Jumla district. The party also emerged victorious in Sannitriveni Rural Municipality of Kalikot, Baghdal Rural Municipality of Humla and Jogdulla Rural Municipality of Dolpa.
The UML, NC and Maoist Center were leading in large number of local units where vote counting was underway until Monday night.
Another major political party Rastriya Prajatantra Party was however unable to win any chief and deputy chief posts of rural municipality.